We celebrate my birthday in Anchorage to the taste of Arctic char from Kaktovik
Friday, July 15, 2011 at 1:01PM 
On the evening of my birthday, I drove into Anchorage where most of the rest of my family already was. Margie had been staying with Jacob and Lavina since the day that I left for Kaktovik, as Jobe had been a little under the weather and she needed to take care of him while Lavina worked.
Soon after I arrived, Lavina threw a few of the Arctic char that I had brought back from Kaktovik onto the grill.
These particular char were given to me by Marie Rexford. Elizabeth Rexford also gave me a generous number from the cache of she and husband Fenton.
Oh, boy, was it tasty! Char is one of my favorite fish - right up there with salmon, halibut and trout.
Thank you, Marie, Fenton and Elizabeth - your generosity made my birthday extra special.
I will still try to work a few char fishing pictures in here, maybe tomorrow, maybe Sunday, maybe Monday.
I am told that Kalib still wields the spatula - usually on a weekend morning when he is cooking eggs, but I have not personally seen him carry the spatula for awhile.
It had been rainy and cool when I drove out of Wasilla, but when I got out of the car at Jacob and Lavina's house, the sun shone brightly upon me and I was surprised by how hot it felt - just like I remember from the southern Arizona desert.
Well, maybe not quite that hot.
We ate on the table that graces the back deck of Jacob and Lavina's house. When I sit here, I am always amazed at the typical American suburban environs my son and daughter-in-law have planted themselves in and how comfortable they seem within.
After dinner, a few of us sat in the living room and talked while others readied something out in the kitchen that I was not supposed to see just yet.
It was Lisa whose stories dominated the conversation, and they were mostly about the dogs that she had been caring for while their owners were away. One day, she came to the house to find that one of the dogs had pooped on important tax papers. She had to save those papers, and the process involved rubber gloves and drying and sterilizing things and it was not pleasant.
Charlie said the dog had only done what everybody wants to do.
After she told the story, Jacob came out with Jobe. Jobe tackled Jacob.
Look up there, on the wall. It's Jobe's Apache cradleboard, the one made especially for him by one of the most skilled cradleboard makers on the White Mountain Apache Reservation - his Aunt LeeAnn.
Jobe will never sleep in it again.
That makes me kind of sad, yet I so greatly enjoy watching him grow, learn and experience.
Margie came out, pulled the curtains and turned out the lights. Then Melanie entered from the kitchen, followed by Kalib, Margie and Lavina. She carried the object that I had not been allowed to see until now. It was a flaming cake that she had made, just for me.
Count the number of candles and you will see that on my birthday, I turned younger than I had been for five decades.
The little ones watched intently as grandma inhaled a deep breath. Could he do it? Not quite!
So Kalib, the expert candle blower-outer, finished the job.
Once again, I drove home by myself. Jobe was doing quite a bit better, but Lavina's good friend, Sandy, has hit her due date and could go into labor at any minute. She wants Lavina with her when she delivers and Lavina has promised that she will be.
Jacob had to leave for Kipnuk early in the morning, so Margie stayed to be on hand to care for the little ones should another little one choose the next day to be born.
This is what I saw as I neared Wasilla, just a few minutes before midnight.
Midnight won't look like this for much longer.
Reader Comments (8)
Happy bday again currently waiting at brothers pizza in bethel for flight home kipnuk was wet wet wet
Wishing you a very happy Birthday! Although it looks like you've already had one :) What a great family you have, it warms my heart.
what???
birthday?...was I supposed to be notified...ASAP...?
HAPPIEST BIRTHDAY FROSTY...WE LOVE YOU.
cake (the one I see) on you
ouzo (u don't see)on me
VIVA my friend
Happy Birthday ♥
Oh, Bill... once again, I laughed, then I cried. Then I was engulfed in a fit of more laughter, and then I cried because Jobe has outgrown his cradleboard. You are running me ragged with a roller coaster of emotions! But that's perfectly ok, because you bring us scenes we are lucky to have a chance to see. Please keep us updated on your potential "e-magazine"...I'm in with all 4 feet!
Nice birthday -- warms my heart as well.
Oh, I wish I had been at your birthday party! That char looks wonderfully yummy! I am envious.
I'm glad you had a wonderful birthday. I like the last picture on your way home.