Friday, April 20, 2007

Sorry it's been a while, but.....

Well I'm in Anchorage now....I know that comes as a shock to probably no one who knows me well, but there might be someone who doesn't know! I got a divorce from my husband of the last few years, final on February 2, 2007, and I had to leave my beloved home on Wadleigh by March 31. A cursory ending at best to what had become my life, my love, and my home. However......

That started a blessed event, actually, my return to civilization! After a hellish few weeks of packing up the things that I wanted to take with me from the house, packing all of them down the float, loading them into the skiff, travelling across the bay, unloading the skiff, hauling everything back up the float to a waiting truck, and taking the truck to the barge, I was incredibly exhausted. Mentally, physically, and emotionally.

I had to leave my beloved dogs behind - except for one, Scooby Doo. The pack will be fine on the island - it's the only home they've ever known. They will continue to hunt and fish and as far as I know, are still living in their home, as I left the door wide open for them when I left. I hope they guard it well and get to remain the primary residents. As for Scoobs, she made it in the back of a cramped, packed Ford Explorer for four days in the bowels of the MV Kennicott, which brought us across the Gulf of Alaska to the port city of Whittier, about one hour's drive from Anchorage.

She's a pretty tough little customer, as the last leg of the journey from Yakutat to Whittier involved some 25-30 foot seas. The Kennicott handled them remarkably - it's the newest vessel in the Marine Highway Fleet - Alaska's answer to public transportation, which is a great way to get around this state for a reasonable price. We boarded the ferry in Ketchikan after taking a small ferry from Prince of Wales first. The Kennicott took us to Juneau, Yakutat, and then Whittier. We got off and drove the Explorer on to Anchorage, which was a beautiful drive where I got to see the ocean frozen for the first time in my life - huge floating chunks of ice bigger than an island - amazing.

So I'm here in Anchorage now - I have a telephone, digital cable, internet, and an apartment. It's different, but we're adapting! Actually I haven't missed hauling gas in jerry jugs in the boat, loading the boat full of groceries, unloading the boat in general. But I do miss the solitude, the beauty, and the dogs. And I always will. I love you Purdy, Skinny Minnie, Brutus, Roxie, Mama Dog, and Seven. Scooby Doo misses you and says hi.