Musings

Random garage in Skagway...the door is painted ala the Alaskan flag.

Several factors could be part of the procrastination to blog. I'm on my second cold of the summer. The first one lasted 2-1/2 weeks, gave me a 1-1/2 week reprieve and blasted me again. I'm about 90% better but it's ending with 4 cold sores on my lip. Having been sick is factor one. Factor two is that we're mid-season and that's chock-a-block full of lots of different feelings, not all of them are positive. Factor three: there hasn't been any activity as momentous as the glacier trip.

So what has been going on? Besides being sick, we've been working. Mike spent about 5 days of being pretty out of it with fever and (to put it delicately) GI problems. He became well enough just in time to leave. He was invited to go on a four day fam (short for familiarization) trip up to Dawson City, location of the Klondike gold fields. This is the second or third fam trip up to Dawson. Partly it's a reward for being a great driver and partly it's to familiarize them with the route since some of our drivers have had to do what is called "highway."

Highway means driving for the cruisetours....being gone for 3-10 days, then picking up a new group and driving back. It's something Mike is considering for next year and he may be asked to do this year. The text I got from him says it was an awesome drive up and that Dawson is a neat little town. We'll have a report on whether he did, indeed, drink the Sour Toe Cocktail. More on that in the next blog.

We had Safety Week two weeks ago. Safety Week is a variety of activities to remind everyone getting lax in mid-summer that safety is a priority. Winning team will get a ride on the train with a pizza party in their own train car. Mike's team won. Part of the activities included a bus rodeo with several "events." Team drivers maneuver the coach through a course set up with orange cones: parallel parking, tight turns, backing up, etc. There was also a sign rolling contest where the heavy metal signs that direct ship passengers to their shore excursions are rolled in a timed race. And then there was the wheel chair course in which the one pushing the chair (me) is blindfolded and is directed by the person in the chair (Daisy) through a coned-course. A good time was had by all on a cold and very windy day.

One Wednesday I went on another shore excursion. It involved taking the fast ferry out to Haines. Haines is 14 nautical miles down the Taiya Inlet of the Lynn Canal. Its population is a little under 2300. There are a few tours based there and I took what is called the Takshanuk 4x4. In this you take the ferry to Haines then board a bus to the base of the Takshanuk mountains. There you board Kawasaki mules and drive up a dirt road to what are supposedly great views. This IS a temperate rain forest and true to form we were pretty fogged in. Still, it was a nice little ride in the forest and I got more blurry pictures of flowers. 1/4 through the ride you stop at the lodge for a hot drink and warm cookies. 3/4 through the ride you return to the same building you got the cookies and have an amazingly good lunch of the best deep fried halibut I've had in Alaska. They do have a lot of animal sightings in this area and there was a bear paw print on the door....but no animals were seen except for distant eagles.

I can't say whether this is a good trip for cruise ship passengers or not. We drive our Jeep in the desert and go on some pretty adventurous little roads, so in terms of 4x4 driving, it wasn't anything real exciting. And we hike, so we've seen the forest here. Therefore, it's difficult for me to judge what a cruise passenger might get out of it. But I rode with Trey, one of the guides and we had a great conversation about his job, the excursion and living the seasonal lifestyle. Thanks to Adam, the excursion's promotion manager for helping me do this tour!

A bunch of us went out for Liz's 20th birthday last night. We went to Olivia's Bistro at the Skagway Inn because one of the guests had said it was really good and that's where Liz chose. Although Erin, who put it all together...including making invitations!...made a reservation, Dennis didn't know that ten of us were coming at 8:30 p.m. Despite that, he gave us our own space, served us with friendliness and made us very, very welcome. It was a fun evening. Only wish Mike could have been there, too. And the food was excellent. We even bought the freshly made carrot cake at an excellent price. Yes, the whole cake. Buying the whole cake was cheaper than if we'd each bought a dessert. It was so fresh that it was still warm from the oven and the icing was melting off the top.

Other than that, it's just been working. And mid-season does show a slump in enthusiasm. The phrase here is that people on cruise vacations leave their brains at home. This is an unkind generalization, but sadly it is very apt for some people. One of the things we do in expediting the cruise ship people going on a land tour is seat them in the ship show lounge in their groups. Here's the conversation that I had about 3 times yesterday:

Me: What tour are you on?
Passenger: I'm not on a tour.
Me: Are you leaving the ship today for the day or for a trip around Alaska and the Yukon.
Passenger: I'm leaving for a trip.
Me: You're on a tour. What color luggage tags did you get?
Passenger: What luggage tags?
Me: Did you get an envelope in your cabin with luggage tags last night?
Passenger: Yes, they were red...or orange...or pink. (we have no red tags) 1A, I think it was.
Me: What is your name?
Passenger: (Smith or Jones or Dwiethzick)
Me: (consulting manifest) You're on tour 7B which is seated on the far left.
Passenger: Thank you!
Me: Good morning. I see you have 9A luggage tags, you sit on the right.
Passenger 2: Could you check my name to make sure?
Me: (we double check the manifest before WE give the ship the luggage tags). Certainly. Yes, you're on tour 9A.
Me: What tour are you on?
Next Passenger: I'm not on a tour. I'm leaving today.

And so it goes. I've learned something about booking shore excursions. When we take our cruise, we will only book what we ABSOLUTELY intend to do no matter the weather or how tired we are. And we will book it in advance. And every time we get off the ship, we'll laugh and goof and make funny faces and allow the photographer to take our photo without being rude to them. And we will remember our passports. And we won't expect the ship to monetarily make up for us stubbing our tour on an excursion we booked in port on our own or for bad weather or for the fact that I missed a flight connection to start my cruise and missed the lobster dinner or that I'm too old to read the information and don't put the luggage tags on my luggage.

So that's the midseason factor...giving my all to people and most of the people are great, but some are just stinkers. This past Tuesday I was the person in the uniform in the line of sight as complaint recipient provided by three different disgruntled people between 6:45 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. The first one actually screamed at me. Ok. So, blogging about mid-season doesn't give that rosy Alaskan picture I've enjoyed sharing so much.

We had our monthly recognition meeting and Mike was upgraded to the next MOOSE pin for having several commendations by co-workers and guests. A couple of people got them because I commended them for their efforts and that made me feel good. And a couple of people got them because I mentioned to the guest that if they were happy they should fill out a form. "Catch the child being good."

Mid-season also means looking forward to 1) having to look for work in the fall, 2) deal with decisions about our house, 3) drive in fast traffic, and 4) live in the Arizona atmosphere of cultural hatred and distrust, bad economy and cookie cutter houses. We've had a few sunny afternoons and one sunny day this month, but I do have to say that I still look around and amazedly announce to myself: "I'm in ALASKA!" Looking forward to seeing everyone back in the Phoenix area. Not looking forward to living there.

Life has gone on in Arizona. And much of what I've heard has been thought-provoking. One young friend is currently gravely ill. Another friend...one who we weren't real close with, but close enough to socialize with occasionally...and whom I'd lost touch with until she recently friended me on FB...one who I will always remember for her beautiful smile and delicious guacamole...committed suicide at the age of 46. Lauren had a losing argument with an X-acto knife. Amber fixed up her house and got a dog and Joe will be home soon. And there are other family issues I'd like to be there to help be a support. And I miss my Arnold.

There have been days when I wanted to just sit and write about my thoughts on friendship, the meaning of friendship or even if it has meaning. Or days I'd like to write about hope or spirituality. One day at work, we had some free time. One of the drivers, Chad came by. He spent time answering our questions and so we I learned more about the LDS church than I'd ever known before. I am grateful for the time he took and am impressed with his passion and joy even with no intention of becoming Mormon myself.

I am grateful to Sarah for continuing to create a space on Sunday mornings for whoever is interested to break bread together.

I am grateful to people who smile and genuinely say thank you.

I am grateful for weather that is cool and scenery that is endlessly beautiful.

I am grateful for a slower pace even for a few months.

I am grateful to see beyond the so-called American dream.

Even the vacant lots are beautiful

There is a part of me that just wants to erase this whole post because my heart is not where I would like it to be. But my heart is just where it is. And that is not only ok. It's a good thing.