Three studies of the young writer, Shoshauna; two studies of the aging photographer/author whose blog just won an award / two sisters
Wednesday, December 22, 2010 at 12:23PM 
The recent great drama for the moon, of course, was the total eclipse that overtook it just as winter solstice began. Even after the drama, the moon would linger, in full, throughout the solstice.
As all who frequent this blog know, I am a person who must get out into the open air and do something every day - walk, ride my bike, cross-country ski (at least before I shattered my shoulder and I hope very soon again) but lately I haven't.
Until yesterday afternoon, I had not taken a single walk since I last strolled across the lagoon in Barrow almost two weeks ago. I just have not been able to make myself do it and I have been atrophying. Yesterday, I decided that I must break through this and so I went walking.
As I walked, I could not help but think that this winter solstice day marked one month from the morning that I received the news that Anil had been killed in a car crash.
And today, this day, when I sit here writing, marks one month since I got the news that Sandy had followed her husband.
One month, yet I feel ten years older than I did when I awoke November 21.
I have been resisting the idea of old age - it has been my theory that old age is concept that applies to other people, but not me - that no matter how many years I accumulate, I will remain a young man.
Right now, it doesn't feel that way anymore.
Still, I intend to fight it.
Late last night, I also learned that this little blog of mine had been voted in as the Best Photography Blog of 2010 in the Blogger's Choice Awards.* For this, I would like to thank all of you who have cast votes on my behalf. And thank you, smahoney, for nominating my work in the first place.
I feel great sorrow that I cannot share this news with Sandy. I will share the news with her, and I will feel that she knows, but I won't know this for certain.
Or maybe I will.
Even when you feel something in certainty, it is hard to know for certain.
After I learned that I had won this award, I went into the house and told Margie. She did something she does not often spontaneously do that much anymore. She spontaneously reached up, put her arms around my neck, lifted her face to mine and kissed me right on the lips.
"That's wonderful," she said. "I'm not surprised. Well, I am surprised. But I'm not surprised."
It was a nice moment.
This woman has gone through so much, sacrificed so much, including anything even resembling security as old age approaches, just so I could follow my dreams and be a photographer/writer in Alaska - wandering here, wandering there, never working for money but always for love, sometimes bringing in a sudden flush of money but most of the time accomplishing quite the opposite.
Thank you, Margie.
Even before my walk ended, I started the car with the remote from about 100 yards away. I then poked my head into the house and told Margie that I was headed to Metro Cafe. OK, she said.
So here I am, pulling up to the drive-through line at Metro Cafe.
As I saw the people inside, I remembered the words from Cheers that Ice Road Truck Driver and India's Most Dangerous Road driver Lisa Kelly employed to tell CNN why she likes to go to Metro Cafe.
"Sometimes you just want to go to where everybody knows your name."
I don't think that everybody who was inside Metro Cafe on this day knows my name.
But Shoshauna does. Shoshauna knows my name. And she had a smile on her face as I approached.
When I got to the window, Shoshauna informed me that, once again, an anonymous person had bought my coffee and my cinnamon roll. I have an idea who this anonymous person might be - in fact, I think there might be more than one anonymous person.
Whether I am right or wrong, I appreciate it.
Study # 3: Shoshauna, the young writer, preparing my coffee.
;)
I was still sipping that coffee when I drove across the Little Su. I had finished the cinnamon roll.
I turned around at Grotto Iona, A Place of Prayer, and headed back towards home.
Along the way, I saw this car.
And this from India - Two Sisters:
Actually, I do not know that they are sisters. They may have been cousins, aunt and niece, teacher and student, mentor and apprentice - or just friends.
I know nothing about them, other than what you can see in this picture. I took it in a flash of a moment through the window of a taxi, hired by Murthy and Vasanthi, to take Melanie and me touring about southern India with them - and with Buddy.
I cannot even tell you what village we were passing through. It was one of countless.
*Two other Alaska-related blogs won Blogger's Choice Awards: Palingates, for Best Political Blog and conservatives4palin for Worst Blog of All Time. Congratulations to the both of you.
Reader Comments (25)
Congrats, Bill!
Congratulations on your win..yippeeee
Congrats!!!!!!!!!! I so enjoy your blog and your pictures. Please keep doing what your doing!
May your holidays be blessed with family and friends and your new year be filled with good health and happiness.
Congrats Bill!
You earned it.
Hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
well deserved Bill, congratulations and todays pictures are wonderful yoo
Many congratulations. The award is well deserved. You have shown me (I with many others) aspects of Alaska (and the world) that I never would have experienced otherwise, and have done so beautifully and with great humanity.
Congratulations Bill! You make my life both more thoughtful and more enriched everyday that I visit. I'm also reminded, by your writings and photos, of how to be a better, more mindful and caring person.
Bill,
I start my mornings enjoying your photos and reading your narratives that accompany them. It is spirit-lifting in so many ways. I love seeing the people you know and love, especially Jobe and his big brother. Alaska is a beautiful place.
I want you know that I appreciate what you do and congrats. "Keep your head to the sky" (EW&F)
Awesome Bill! I am really happy that your hard work on the blog has won you the award! Even though it has some crazy frustrating moments in the technical aspects of this program used to make it, the readers still love to hear your stories, and see the pictures! I am one of them!
Take care!
Charlie
A well-deserved honor for a wonderful blog. Congratulations, Bill Hess!
Congratulations! and Thank you Bill for this wonderful blog. This blog of yours seems like a bridge between 2 worlds.
Your body might grow old but that doesn't mean your spirit has to, and I don't think it ever will. CONGRATULATIONS on the award Bill!!!! That is very exciting. I am very proud of you :)!
Great post :) had a nice time reading
greetings from http://picxy.blogspot.com
Congratulations, Bill! You certainly earned the honor and I am delighted to see you receive it. You have created something wonderful and we are all richer for experiencing it with you.
Thank you for letting us all peek into your life and heart, Bill. You teach enormous life-lessons, perhaps unintentionally. They have helped me greatly with humility, awareness, and appreciation for the day's blessings
Hope you and Margie are enjoying your new woodstove. MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and yours, and congratulations on your well-deserved award!!
Congratulations, Bill. And I think it's safe to say: Sandy knows.
Peace to you and yours.
There simply was no other choice for Best Photography Blog. I'm so happy you won! You also deserve an award for best written. You speak with your heart, in a way that includes all of us in your life and loves. When you hurt, we hurt, when you're happy, we can't help but be happy too.
Your family is wonderful, you make me happy to feel that in some far-away sense, I'm part of them too. Kalib and Jobe are adorable, they receive many cyber kisses from me. Wouldn't they be surprised?
I wish you and yours the very Merriest of Christmases. May your heart begin to heal in the tiniest way each & every day.
I can't think of a more deserving recipient. Your blog offers a place of serenity and love in a world that neets both. I have been a lurker on your site for a long time and was more than happy to be able to cast a vote for you. Yea...the good guy won!!
Congratulations, Mr. Hess! I concur with the others. You have such a gift, and I thank you for sharing your family, your friends, your life with us.
I was so happy to see that you had won! I look forward to your blog every day.
Congrats on the win! I'll admit, it stings a little bit hearing your readers say things like "The good guy won" and "there was no other choice", but whatever, I don't want them as readers anyway. ;)
But the award is well deserved! The 2011 voting started already though, so make sure you let everyone know that they need to vote again.
Thank you, one and all. Now I must try to make it bigger and better next year.
FROSTFROG...you did it...
Now ,the bar is too high...high up there...
You know what to do...
And if you don't know...
Don't worry...
You have the mass audience ...next to you...
My vote counts for millions...:)))))
Hugs mate...
You have to give me a cat...you have promised:)))))
Happy Universal Holidays!
I agree with Margie.. I am totally NOT surprised you won.. Was there ever a doubt? You and your blog are amazing Mr.Hess... completely and totally..
And I am sure that someone up in the clouds is smiling about your accomplishment.. :)
Delighted for your win and best wishes for continuing success!