Love 'em and Leave 'em

This was a great holiday trip for me, it was hard to see end. It went like this: I spent a few days in and around Anchorage, where I shared a king bed with a generous stranger (see below). Then, headed to Denver to be with my cousin Angie for some cocktail partying and downhill skiing. Days later I left for Appleton, WI for some family and friend time and finally, I spent the new year at Sawbill in Northern Minnesota for some quality outdoor activity, fun and friendship.

All of that is incredibly hard to leave. Heartbreaking even: The packing, the goodbyes and remembering that this is the last dose of family, love and friendship, from this part of my life for a while. Reminding me just how separate my life here is from my life in the lower 48 and how the two will never really be able to mingle. When I leave either place, it feels as though I’m sealing up relationships like they are time capsules, not to be opened for several months, and never to be exactly the same again.

Loving too often and too easily has its drawbacks, but I don't know any other way to live. What fun.

I had arrived in Denver about an hour before this photograph was taken. I felt strangely displaced while half naked, drinking alcohol, and fielding questions about Alaska. I went to sleep earlier than everyone else. Despite being overwhelmed, Neil’s cocktail party was still loads of fun.

My friend Alison Bents took this photo. Sawbill is one of the places I feel most at home with friends who are more like family. We play hard and always have the kind of fun that I can only describe as outrageous. I love that.

Caitlin and I found our sled preference this year. She was much more adept at keeping her balance than I was. Sure was fun.

I left Sawbill and headed to St. Paul, MN. I did some last minute supply shopping at Super Target and found myself browsing the aisles with misty eyes. I spent the night at Koz and Tony’s house. They were the perfect pair to stay with on my final night. Tony even expert packed, drilled, duct taped and zip-tied my big container of food and supplies. I can only imagine the frustration I would have endured doing all this by myself in the slightly emotional state I was in. Koz made me a CD she cleverly titled "Connection to the Contiguous" (or songs not played on NPR). My favorite song being, "I'm in Miami Trick" by LMFAO. Tony made a killer breakfast in the morning and I was off. Gosh, they are good friends.

It's fun flying back to Alaska because it's inevitable that I will run into several people who I know. This time I met Brian and Kirsten in Minneapolis, Staci in Seattle and several others once we arrived in Anchorage. We all spent the night in Anchorage where we played darts, had a few beers and laughed before returning to our respective villages. Here's a view flying back into Dillingham.

The runway in Dillingham. What a beautiful welcome home.