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Around Alaska's Mat-Su Valley with Pam Holen
January 7, 2008
The trees today bring back memories of a gown I once wore for a ballet recital. I was eight and represented the snow – dressed in white chiffon, lace and sequins. When the light bounced off the gown, a rainbow of colors shimmered across the stage. It is cold in the Valley and we’ve had several days of hoarfrost. It covers the trees like my white chiffon dress and when the sun shines through the branches, a rainbow of colors shimmer. The crystals are long and lacey and delicate and in my mind I can again hear the music.
I stopped in at one of my favorite galleries a few days ago – Artworks Gallery & Glass Studio on the Old Glenn Highway in Eagle River. They specialize in stained glass and offer a variety of classes. The owner and I were talking about family in the Seattle, Washington area. She said Seattle is just a town away from Anchorage – three and one half hours in a plane. I hadn’t thought about the Lower 48 as “just a town away” before. It has always been the Lower 48 and only attainable by purchasing tickets, packing bags, driving to Anchorage, completing the baggage and security rituals at Stevens International Airport, then the long bumpy ride to Sea-Tac. I made the trip five times in 2007 and now can see her point. After all, it is an eight hour drive to Fairbanks and Juneau isn’t even a consideration. It may take up most of a day to reach my destination in Oregon, but driving to the peninsula also takes up most of my day.
We returned from 14 days in Astoria, Oregon on New Year’s Eve. Jim attended a party at a neighboring house; I went to bed with a blossoming cold virus and missed the excitement. The Mat-Su Borough permitted fireworks this year and as an employee at the post officer stated, “We’ve always ignored the law and set off fireworks. This year they were just bigger and better.” We always have a beautiful show around Cottonwood Lake with three to five homes participating. I wonder if ringing in 2008 was “bigger and better.” Clueless – slept through it with three border collies and one cat huddled around me, keeping me warm, snug, and asleep.
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