Mother’s Day
My first memory in life is of my maternal grandmother on Mother’s Day, shortly before she had a heart attack. I was four years old. It’s a sobering memory. The details are well worn in my mind. This time of year, I think quite often of my own mother and of my five aunts, almost all of whom are mothers themselves. I think of what Mother’s Day means to them. Their mother died the next day.
As a daughter and one of the only nieces in my family, I’ve always had great respect for what my mom and her sisters must have gone through, losing their mom at Mother’s Day. They were all in their early 30′s or younger. My mom would have been 26 years old. Now, as a mother, that respect has deepened. Over time, the meaning of Mother’s Day has changed for me, too.
This year, I gave myself over to the blessings in my life. I spent the day with my guys. The sun came out after weeks of rain. We had a beautiful visitor in our backyard. We took our annual Mother’s Day hike. I had a conversation with my own mother that I won’t soon forget. And as I planted flowers in the garden, I realized that even though my first memory (and only memory of my grandmother) is sad, I’m blessed to have that one memory of her and the legacy she has left in my life.
Below are some photos of my memorable Mother’s Day (click to enlarge). To all my mom friends out there, I hope you found blessings in your day too.
Getting ready for breakfast, I looked up through the kitchen window to this view.
For about a half hour, we watched this guy nibble the blueberry bushes in the back yard while we nibbled our breakfast. The sun came out for the first time in weeks.
For the last several years, we've taken a hike on Mother' Day. This year we visited the Auke Lake Trail.
April Book Review
April showers bring May flowers. Except we didn’t have any April showers! It was a beautiful, sunny, dry month. We spent a tremendous amount of time outside. Hence, not much time reading. Trust me, I’m not complaining.
I read three books in April. The first was The Elegance of the Hedgehog, by Muriel Barbery. This was a book club book, and many of my book club friends started the book before I did. They made faces when the subject of the book came up. They grimaced. So I delayed picking it up and opened it with some reluctance.
First let me say, it’s translated from French. And a great deal of it involves some of the characters thinking and talking about European art and culture. If I knew anything about European art and culture or had any interest in European art and culture, this could have been appealing. But since I don’t…well, *grimace.* Yet, I loved the characters. And so I will freely admit that I skipped sentences, paragraphs, even whole chapters (they were all short chapters) of European art and culture to get to the parts where the characters interacted. This is a book about Fate, how she intervenes to enrich the lives of three people who are smart enough to open the door, even just a crack, and let her in.
I was excited to come across Lisa Genova’s second book, Left Neglected, at the used bookstore. I loved her first book, Still Alice (January Book Review). Genova has a Ph.D. in neuroscience, and tackles another brain subject in her most recent novel – a condition called “left neglect.” It’s hard to describe (the author even admits this). In a nut shell, this condition affects a person’s ability to recognize anything on their left side. In fact, to folks with this condition “left” simply doesn’t exist. They do not recognize having a left arm or leg. There’s no left side of a room or page of paper. And in the main character’s condition, even when she’s told that she’s missing the left side of things, she can’t just turn left and find it. There simply is no left. It’s a fascinating and devastating condition.
The other notable thing about this novel is that the main character is a mom of three, married and working full time as head of HR for a major worldwide consulting company. She’s a busy gal. We’re all busy gals, in our own way. Her condition is a result of a car accident. She was simply driving to work in rainy conditions and reached over to grab her phone out of her purse. Something so routine, so mundane, could happen to anyone. I’m not a fatalist, but still, it was a good reminder to slow down and focus on the more important things in life. I enjoyed this book, but think that Still Alice (about early on-set of Alzheimer’s Disease) was better.
And finally, I read Tina Fey’s Bossypants. Now I’ve never watched 30 Rock, and I missed Tina Fey on SNL, but I certainly followed her work doubling as Sarah Palin. I don’t know much about her character or her sense of humor, but I enjoyed the book. I especially found her perspective on being a woman in the male dominated TV industry interesting. And funny, of course. Thanks to Alison for the loan!
And finally, a note about the future of reading for little ‘ole me. For my birthday at the end of the month I got a Kindle Fire. A friend of mine said she felt the earth shift. I’ve always been the person who said, “I’ll never own one of those things.” Well, now I’m a walking, reading lesson for “never say never.” I promise to report on my experiences next month, since my May reads will be e-books. Stay tuned!
What are you reading? Stay in touch! lori@alaskafamily.net
Our Wild Yard
The other day we watched two small deer move through the woods along our house. I should be clear – at times, they moved towards us, as Garrett talked to them softly. It’s one of those moments I hope replays itself in Garrett’s head when he looks back on his childhood.
A big doe walked through the back garden to nibble on some bird seed that had fallen from a tree feeder.
We have had so many experiences with wildlife in our yard – we’re starting to accumulate a lot of memories! Hummingbirds playing tag in the clearing behind the house. Bears appearing as if on queue (like when my mom said, on the last day of her visit, “I didn’t see a bear this year”). The ermine who sat next to the car and watched Garrett watching it before disappearing into the woodpile. The second-year black bear that wanted to play chicken with me over the grease can hanging off the grill. The first evening we saw a coyote, standing just behind the house, peering down at our dogs from the top of the garden (I remember cursing a lot – I hope Garrett doesn’t remember that part). I could go on and on.
Coyote in the back yard.
When we moved in, the old-timer next door warned us about “the bear that come down off the hillside.” He said, “if you hear me shootin’, I ain’t shootin’ at the missus.” (Not kidding). And for the record, we’ve heard him shooting.
Bear #2 in the bear parade through our back garden. Mating season last spring.
But now, ’tis the season for birds, and we’re having fun watching the chickadees, junkos, varied thrushes and robins fill the yard and partake in the bird seed we strategically place out the front and back. But soon those feeders will come down, as they will attract the bears. It’s a wild life out there!
A chickadee on the new front bird feeder, this spring.
40
This morning, on the dawn of my 40th birthday, I woke to see my beautiful son standing next to me. With my dear husband laying beside me, I thought, “what more could a woman want in life?”
Reality: 4:40 am. “Mommy, I think I’m going to throw up.”
I’m not kidding. You can’t make this stuff up.
Happy 40th birthday to me!
While I’m happy to report that there’s been no vomiting (yet), Garrett’s got a fever and is asleep again beside me on the couch. My big plans for the day include grant writing for work, from home, and nursing a sick child. Such is life. And life is funny as hell sometimes.
I’ve been thinking a lot about life lately. Yes, 40 is a milestone year, but I’ve always been “going on 40.” I was four and “going on 40.” Just ask my family. I did have a moment the other day when I thought, “holy $#!, 40 years is a long time.” But that was the extent of my freakout over 40.
I’ve learned that you can’t sweat the small stuff, and turning 40 falls into the small stuff category. I recently saw this quote and it made me laugh: “Don’t think too much. You’ll create a problem that wasn’t even there in the first place.” That’s where I’m at, at 40 – not thinking too much!
I feel that in the big span of things, I’ve lived a very blessed life thus far. And since I’m a glass-half-full kind of gal, I can only look forward to the next 40 years of blessings.
So cheers to 40 years! (And lets hope there’s really no vomit on my birthday).
A Year in the Life of a Wolf (Scout)
This weekend, we watched Garrett remove the gold neckerchief he’s been wearing with his Scout uniform for the last year, cross a bridge lined with torches in the twilight of an April evening, and receive the pale blue neckerchief of a Bear Cub Scout. This is a special ceremony called “Bridging” which takes place every spring and honors the work and effort each scout puts into earning a new rank in the Cub Scout program. Last year, I missed his Tiger to Wolf Bridge. This year, Dave and I both proudly witnessed Garrett’s advancement, as well as about 40 other boys in Juneau’s Pack 6 Cub Scout program.
Scouting has become a family affair for us. Dave is assistant Den leader for Garrett’s Den, and I am the Pack secretary. Pack 6 is comprised of a remarkable group of parents and adult volunteers. We have a lot of boys in our Pack, so the phrase, “it takes a village” comes to mind quite often. The scouting calendar runs from early fall through late spring, with a couple of events during the summer. Below are picture highlights of Garrett’s year as a Wolf Scout. Enjoy!
Age 7, geared up and headed to his first summer camp as a Wolf Cub.
Proudly wearing his uniform to Scouting Day at school.
Headed out to one of the first Den meetings of the year. Fall 2011.
Earning his archery badge at the fall day camp.
Den 3 field trip to the police station.
We hosted the Den Christmas Party. Garrett shows off Dave's scouting achievements (esp. Eagle Scout stuff).
Dave & Garrett at the Pine Wood Derby. Garrett won an award for "Funniest Car."
Den 3, making book ends.
Den 3 at the Blue & Gold Banquet, an annual event honoring the history of Scouting in America.
Den 3 - Scouting for Food this spring. Garrett's Pack gathered almost 1,000 pounds of food.
Den 3 Wolves, preparing to "bridge" to Bears.
Literally "on the bridge!"
Garrett and some of his Bear buds, after Bridging.
Goats, Garnets & Garrett
Word spreads fast in Juneau about any number of things, and recently word got out that there were mountain goats roaming the lower part of Mounts Bullard and McGinnis. With the sun high and warm in the sky, it was an easy decision to head to the glacier after school today.
Garrett with the Mendenhall Glacier in the background.
The Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center area has a lot to offer. While the center itself is still closed, you can hang out at the pavillion (always a favorite spot – Dave and I got married there), walk down to the beach, out to photo point, around any number of trails or hike out to Nugget Falls – the closest spot to view goats IF they are on the mountain. Garrett and I opted for the hike.
Signs of spring. Mt. Bullard (elev. 4,225 feet) in the background.
There are lots of things to do out at Nugget Falls. You can visit the waterfall, build sand castles, chuck rocks in the lake, take pictures, scramble around on boulders, and search for garnets. The sandy and gravely areas out near the waterfall are full of itsy-bitsy versions of these gemstones. I always come home with a pocket-full that we add to Garrett’s ongoing collection.
Today's handful of garnets.
Did we see goats? Did we see goats! At first, we just saw one massive mountain goat, sunning itself on a rock above Nugget Falls. It was so big it looked fake. As we wandered back to the parking lot, we ran into someone who said that yesterday there were four goats above the falls. So I turned around and looked, and with my binoculars I spotted two big goats and one little one. Then I happened to scan left along the glacier side of Mt. Bullard. At the same time Garrett yelled, “I see five more!” And sure enough, five more goats were making their way down the precarious mountainside, headed toward the falls. It was very cool.
You can click on this pic to make it bigger. See that off-white speck up above the falls, by a pine tree? Big mountain goat. Trust me.
Enjoy the pics! And if you’re in Juneau, you should head out to the glacier. Spread the word!
Shaman Island
On Sunday, I crossed something off my “bucket list.” We three Klein’s hiked to Shaman Island.
Shaman Island is a very small island off the northern end of Douglas Island, which lies across the channel from Juneau (the mainland). You can reach Shaman by boat or a cold swim. Or, you can hike out via a land bridge that is exposed only during very low tides. There was a -4.5 tide on Sunday morning.
Headed to Shaman, across the land bridge.
What a spectacular morning! Calm winds, blue seas and not a cloud in the sky. We drove about a 1/2 hour from our house to the end of North Douglas, hiked a snow-free Outer Point trail to the beach and then on out to Shaman. We were in good company…somewhere between 40 and 60 other folks got themselves up early to experience the low tide. Many were digging for clams and a good handful were just out to wander around, much like we were.
Along the trail with a large root ball from a fallen tree.
The view from one side of the island.
Show and tell at the beach!
I think we saw the biggest sea stars ever, scattered in the tidal zone, along with urchins, eels and anemones. Garrett got to see his first sun stars outside of an aquarium. We saw four big ones at the lowest tide mark along the land bridge. Garrett discovered a large sea cucumber under a rock – by far the biggest and most colorful one we’ve ever found. And just as we left the beach to head back into the woods and hike to the truck, we discovered a rock with faint hieroglyphics!
And this was one of the smaller sea stars!
Sea stars, urchins and sea cucumber.
Beautiful sun star.
Hieroglyphics on rock.
It may seem silly to have something so accessible on the bucket list. But, I was recently reminded that life is unexpected and fragile. It’s also beautiful and full of opportunity. In fact, that’s a great way to describe Sunday morning: beautiful and full of opportunity. I suppose every day can look that way if we have the eyes to see it.
Family photo with Shaman Island.
March Book Review
Where did this month go? Seriously – if the rest of this year goes by so quickly, I’m in big trouble.
I have a confession to make. Over the last two months, I’ve re-read the Twilight Saga. I don’t often re-read books. After all, there are so many books in the world and so little time. But I finally started watching the movies, and felt compelled to remember the details of the books. I started the series in February, and finished in early March. I don’t know what it is about teen vampire romance, but I enjoyed the second run through the books as much as the first.
Right after ending the Twilight Saga, the library called with the third and final book in The Hunger Games trilogy: Mockingjay. Unfortunately, it was my least favorite book of the series. Our unforgettable heroine finds herself the leader of a revolution. As the book unfolds, she realizes that she’s a pawn in a never-ending game of power and greed, so she takes drastic matters into her own hands. What bugged me most about this book is the violence. It was a step above the other books and it felt like the author needed to outdo herself with every new chapter.
Needing something a little more lighthearted and less gory, I turned to the always entertaining Christopher Moore. The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove did the trick, although there was a little bit of gore when Steve, the prehistoric sea monster ate some of the citizens of Pine Cove, CA. But you couldn’t blame Steve, after all…he was just following his instincts. What I love most about Christopher Moore’s books is that he makes the most fantastical stories seem like they could happen to you. And they make me laugh.
Some time ago, I read two very good books by Markus Zusak. He is a young fiction author. The Book Thief was unforgettable, and I loved I am the Messenger. In March, I read Getting the Girl, which I later discovered was the third book in the Wolfe Brothers series. The narrator is young Cameron Wolfe, the youngest of three brothers who is coming of age and growing out of the shadows of his older brothers. Zusak writes with an intensity and sincerity that just gets me in the gut every time, and I felt that way about Getting the Girl. In fact, it reminded me of one of my most favorite books as a teen, The Outsiders. I should re-read that one someday soon.
The final book of March came recommended by a friend and some strangers having a conversation in Costco. A Discovery of Witches is the first book in The All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness. Witches and vampires and daemons, oh my! Yes folks, this takes Twilight and Harry Potter all to a new level. Part historical intrigue, part love story, A Discovery of Witches is very entertaining. The only downside is that the next book in the trilogy doesn’t come out until this summer!!
Got recommendations? Send ‘em! lori@alaskafamily.net. Happy reading!
Abundant Sunshine
Last Friday, Dave woke up and read the weather forecast: abundant sunshine. Only in a rainforest do you get such adjectives to describe the day’s weather. It was a good omen for a wonderful weekend filled with lots of different kinds of sunshine.
I rarely have to travel for my job, but last Friday was one of those days. I left the house to fly to Anchorage. Dave and Garrett left the house to ski all day. The flight out of Juneau was breathtaking, and Dave was kind enough to keep my homesickness at bay by sending some great pictures from Eaglecrest.
Sunny smiles at Eaglecrest.
Crazy trees under blue skies.
View from warming hut at top of mountain.
No one likes having to work on the weekend, unless you get to attend the kind of event that I did. I represented my organization at the Spirit of Youth (SOY) annual banquet. SOY is a campaign to recognize Alaska’s teens. Each year, communities across Alaska are encouraged to nominate youth for the good things they do in their communities. This year, over 125 youth were nominated. 20 were chosen for their outstanding contributions to their communities. They were honored in Anchorage on Saturday night.
One of my favorite sayings is by Anthony J. D’Angelo: “Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.” These Alaskan teens took at a look at their communities, identified needs and brought their ideas and talents out to shine and benefit others. We’re often inspired by the philanthropy of our peers, but how often are we inspired by the giving spirit of teenagers? Compassion, generosity, and can-do attitudes were in abundance Saturday night. To be inspired, take a minute to go to www.spiritofyouth.org to read about the nominees and winners from this year’s SOY banquet. It was truly an honor to be present for this event.
The icing on the cake was the flight home. Sunday morning in Anchorage was as breathtaking as Friday afternoon in Juneau had been. I thanked my past travel-booking self for the window seat, and my coworker Claire for the pictures.
Majestic Mountains from 20,000 feet.
Glacier, below.
I hope the sun is shining, wherever you are!
March Madness
No, I’m not talking about basketball. I’m talking about the weather.
March is the month that will test the strength and patience of even the most optimistic fans of winter. It feels like spring is right around the corner. But. And that’s the problem. But, it’s not. Days dawn with no clouds and skies so blue you ache to be outside, but the winds are fierce, still blowing winter air, dropping temperatures deeper than they were all winter! The days are so much longer, allowing for walks after dinner, but favorite trails are still choked with ice. The sun shines and warms your skin as snowflakes fall and thicken into whiteout conditions that bring a blizzard and six inches of snow you have to shovel after dinner.
Not that we don’t get out and enjoy (delude, torture) ourselves in the spring-like air. And that’s the point of this entry – to share some recent pictures of our enthusiasm for the beautiful weather. Without a doubt, we stand poised at another change of season. And I have a bad case of spring fever, bordering on madness.
A day so warm, we didn't even need the fire.
The air was warm, but the view was wintery.
Look! No hats, mittens or coats.
Big (blue) sky, Alaska.
