Winter Carnival

Winter is rapidly winding down and spring is on the wind. Winter, however, has left us a gift that will not be going away soon. Snow drifts! This makes coming and going a little more challenging than normal. The snow removal chores are endless because we are at the apex of the windy canyon of buildings. Even going to work is a little more difficult when the snow drifts are like quick sand.

My house is the one on the left with the bridge. The handrail is about eight feet off the ground. That gives you an idea of how much snow has blown in front of my door.

With spring right around the corner, it's a perfect time to celebrate winter one last time. What better way than with a dogsled race. In this photo, a bunch of elder women gather to watch the grand kids race their dogs down the river.

One dog is all it take to get these 65 pound kids zipping along. Notice how low we are compared to the boats that are up on shore. When the ice breaks up in April and water returns, this river will be 10 feet deep again and barges will come again.

The carnival seems to have uncorked the positive energy well in everyone. People are out walking more and there is more happy chatter and laughter than during the darker months.

This good energy is very evident in the classroom. The kids are more cooperative and more mischievous. The rule infractions in the classroom have skyrocketed. More of my kids have been in detention this week than any week previous to this. But it's okay, because spirits are lighter and everyone seems a little happier.

It is on this happier note that I will leave you. Until next time, enjoy winter while it lasts.

One post script note: The pictures are dark because I'm a lousy photographer and not because it's always dark here.

To write or not to write

I have been putting off this entry for some time. I recently suffered a loss in my family that had a tremendous impact on me. I think it will take several months before the idea of what happened sinks in and I am able to deal with it in a positive way.

On the bright side, I learned some things about my remaining family that I really like. There is a generosity in my family that I had forgotten about. It is like the Yup'ik value of sharing. The people here have always had to share whatever they had to insure survival for all. Like the Native Americans of the eastern U. S. these people share bounty and famine equally. My family showed me that we too share in this way, though I have been too distant for too long to see it.