Finally, I get to see Shoshana again - the Chugach Mountains and the beauty that surrounds us here in Wasilla; kid on four-wheeler in the same place
Sunday, November 7, 2010 at 11:49AM 
There is a certain bond between Shoshana and me, and I had not seen her for a full week. I think the bond exists in part because she is a young writer with natural talent who stands right at the threshold of the possibilities before her and I am one with the larger part of my career behind me, but still going, still driving, with many things to do yet.
So, even though our entire contact in life takes place entirely through this window, or, occasionally, across the counter inside, on the average of three or four times a week, if I am not traveling, for total of maybe ten minutes a week, if that much, that is enough time for us to give each other encouragement and we do.
Plus, there are people whom you meet that you just connect with and for me, Shoshana is such a person.
BUT - Shoshana is on a new schedule. On the days that she does not go to school, she comes in early in the morning and she leaves somewhere around 1:30 or 2:00 PM - well before I come in to get my cup at 4:00 PM.
So I had not seen her all week, and I had missed her. "Shoshana misses seeing you!" Carmen* told me Friday. "Saturday she works until 2:45. Promise me that you will come before that, so she can see you."
It would throw my schedule off a bit, but schedules are one thing - friendships are another. And I wanted to see her. On Saturday, I pulled up to the Metro window at about 2:30. When she spotted me, Shoshana began to jump up and down, waving, shouting out in a glad voice and Carmen did, too. The customer in the background seemed very amused by it all.
We were happy to see each other. It felt good to be greeted like that.
See you next Saturday, Shoshana. Same time, same place.
And keep writing, talented young friend.
So I headed home, sipping the Americano that Shoshana had prepared for me, listening to Garrison Keillor, since it was too early for the news.
On the last leg of the drive, I came down Seldon, toward where the Chugach Mountains tumble off to the east.
My normal practice would just be to shoot a few frames through the window as I drove on, listening to the news. But the news was not on. So I stopped, got out of the car, put the 100-400 zoom on my camera and shot a few frames.
Over the past couple of years, I have often heard or read disparaging things about the little community in which I live. I have traveled Outside and have had many people cast judgment upon me, just because I live in Wasilla.
But... my friends... this is what living in Wasilla means to me.
Whatever absurdities may sometimes happen down in this valley, however mocking of the land much of the development might be, we are still surrounded by beauty here - 100 percent of the time. It is always there. Day and night. Beauty! It never goes away. We know it, we feel it.
And when you go beyond the beauty that your eye can see from here, guess what you find?
Alaska. More and more of Alaska, reaching out, stretching ever further beyond in all its wild magnificence. More often than not, it is very difficult to get to and get into, but every inch of it is beautiful to the most exquisite degree.
Even when we can't see it, we feel it.
So take that, Maureen Dowd!
I have been to your New York City and I love it, cherish it, find wonder and amazement in it and the pretzels there were once the best in the world, but you will never find anything like this in New York City.
No, no, no! Nothing at all!
It does not exist there.
But it exists here.
In Wasilla, Alaska.
I still needed to listen to the 4:00 o'clock news - All Things Considered, Weekend Edition, but I had already drunk my coffee.
"Well," Margie said, "we could go get some lunch and sit in the car and eat it and listen to the news."
So we did, I heard the news. For the most part, it was not good. I still enjoyed it.
On the way home, as we came down Seldon, right at the very place where I had taken the pictures of the Chugach, I saw this kid on this small-wheeled four-wheeler.
*As should be clear to all regular readers, I also share a bond with Carmen and when I do not find her at Metro, I miss seeing her, too.
Reader Comments (15)
Wow, the mountain photos are breathtaking! Thank you for taking the time to get out of the car to take them. Thank you for sharing.
Pure joy shown through the window of the Metro. Nice!
Bill,
The photos are absolutely breathtaking! Thanks for bringing out "the big guns" and getting those shots! I
Thanks for sharing and reminding us what used to and should come to our minds when we think of Alaska. Not the negative, petty, distortion brought to your wonderful state by Sarah Palin and her antics. Please share as often as you can to help drown out the noise!
Spectacular shots, Bill! Can you sell them as posters?
100%!! So beautiful!.
*sigh*
Thanks, Bill. I needed that!
beautiful pictures..i thought i left a comment earlier, must have not pushed the send button :)
I enjoy your posts and your pictures are outstanding. How does one erase the image of Alaska perpetuated by Sarah Palin? Reading your blog and seeing your pictures helps.
I was in Denver in Oct., and it really hit home what Alaskans are now asked about when we go outside....and it's sad. Thankfully, the people I met wanted to move on quickly to more pleasant and informative discussions about Ak, so that was good.
I agree with everyone else. Those pictures are beautiful!
Thank you , you and your camera, for capturing a smidge of what my ma always called the eff in ineffable.
Alaska IS ineffable
"incapable of being expressed or described in words; inexpressible: ineffable joy. "
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ineffable
There are some who scurry round with their faces right up against the ground and forget to look up and look around but most of us revel, as you do, in the immediacy of the beauty which surrounds us.
Gorgeous! I definitely need to make it up there someday. Although I'm not quite as warm-blooded as you folks are (Seattle rarely gets below the 40's), so I'll probably have to do it sometime in the summer.
Lovely shots!
I've never been much of a mtn girl. Living in Colorado I couldnt stand looking at the Rocky Mtns everyday. Even living in the shadow of Pikes Peak did nothing for me. Before moving to Alaska I lived in western WA for 7 yrs and while I did enjoy the Olympic and Cascade Mtns it wasnt anything that truly tugged at me. Then I moved to the Mat-Su Valley. I NEVER tire of looking at the beauty that surrounds us on a daily basis. My favorite part of the drive into Wasilla is seeing the Chugach Mtns appear, looming over our wonderful town. This time of yr they really fill me with awe as they get coated with snow.
I have visited your town, my sister lives in Palmer. Because of the two of you I want to love your town, because of my brother I want to love Anchorage. I live in southeast because I love it here. Thanks for sharing!