I fly south, drinking cranberry juice as I go; Summer stays behind in Barrow

Here I am in Alaska Airlines Flight 52, sitting in seat 20 F, watching the Stewardess come down the aisle, serving soft drinks and pretzels, and selling alcoholic drinks and "snack packs" that are not at all worth the cost. She cannot take cash, but only credit or debit cards. That is why she holds the glowing device in her hands - it is a credit card reader.

She and her partner reach my row, which is empty except for me. "What would you care to drink, sir?" she asks.

"Cranberry Juice," I answer. I feel quite inflated with myself - she called me, "Sir."

Her partner hands her the cranberry juice and a plastic cup.

The stewardess hands me my cranberry juice. I am thirsty and it tastes very good. I want more, but she never offers me more. Not enough time, I guess. This leg is from Barrow to Fairbanks and only takes a little over an hour to fly.

I become curious as to who sits behind me. I turn around and see a baby. It is six-month old baby Noah of Barrow, with his mother, Bobbie.

 

But Noah and Bobbie are not traveling alone. Sister/daughter Nancy, five years old, flies with them. It is not right to leave her out of the picture, so she joins in.

There is one more sister, Summer, age 2. She has stayed behind in Barrow. I have no choice but to leave Summer out of the picture.

After Fairbanks, we fly on to Anchorage, where I am greeted by 30 degree air - that's above zero. It feels shockingly warm. As I stand on the curb waiting for Lisa to pull up and pick me up, I find myself standing by a guy who flew in from Portland.

He thinks it is cold.

A warm front has blown into South Central from off the Pacific.