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Sunday, April 15, 2007

Breakup

Signs of spring everywhere lately. Not new growth, per say; not sun, either. Just melt and light. Melt releases a world long smothered by winter. Streams flow free again. The tips of small willow trees peak out from the mushy snowpack. I go snowshoeing on an old, familiar trail and it becomes new again.

Early in my walk, I found a green plastic Easter egg. It had a fun-sized Hershey bar inside. It was all alone in the snow, in an odd enough place that it must have been dropped, not hidden. This is where I found it, near a half-frozen waterfall. And I was in a strange enough mood that I carried it with me on my hike and made it the subject of photographs.

My outdoor activities as of late, as sparse as they've been, have been fairly uninspiring. I'm reading nonfiction books about long-distance bicycle touring again, which, if my past habits are any indication, is a fairly clear sign that I'm slipping into a rut. I've been envious of Geoff and his training. I try not to let that sentiment show when he describes his latest adventures to me, but sometimes I find myself tempted to turn the conversation back to baseball.

At least I still have snowshoeing, but likely only a couple more weeks worth. Rain showers strip the snowpack away like acid. April is the beginning of the dry season in Juneau, but that's definitely relative. Dry season here would be monsoon season in Utah. At least we're not having snowstorm tornadoes like the rest of the country.


I also have Folk Fest to drain me of all of my energy, and a 3 a.m. night does that well. Last night at the Alaska Hotel, I ran into a friend from Anchorage plays fiddle in an old-timey band. Her real life is filled with legislative lobbying and bar exams and "good, old-fashioned Asian discipline." But fiddling is her passion. "Folk Fest changed my life!" she screamed with startling intensity that could have been the Alaskan Smoked Porter speaking, but I think any self-restraint would have only stripped away the truth. I envied her too, because she had lifelong love where I only had a flirtatious night out.

Today, while burning my way through 90 cardio minutes at the gym with a Runner's World magazine, I read twice an article about marathoner John Kelley. In his story arc, it seems he never experienced a life half lived. He just started out strong and kept going. He's still going.

"The things we do should consume us," Kelley told the reporter. "If they don't, our lives won't have any meaning."

18 comments:

  1. in hungary it is like 20celsius now

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  2. Kelley sounds like a philosopher. To some degree, I agree with him on that, except that I personally think everything we do in our lives will consume us, just a matter of much or less.

    Like your blog.

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  3. Well done. I like your blog. Speak soon. A.

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  4. Simply incredible. I've never seen places like that, owing it to living in Texas all my life. Way to go on saving that egg!

    But, while it's never something you should do all the time, its nothing strange to let the mundane, quiet things we do consume us. I try to, despite living near a highway in every home ever. Wish I had friends whose passion was fiddling.
    Distant Hi!

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  5. Gorgeous photos, great post! (particularly the John Kelly quote)

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  6. I saw the place you live in... and I can't tell you enough how much I envy you. You should be proud.
    From a crowded city from Romania,
    Gyges

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  7. You made "Blogs of Note"!!!!!!!!

    You're my hero!

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  8. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  9. How do you make blogs of note?
    Your land is beautiful. Do Alaskans consider themselves to be a full fledged part of the States or are you somewhat more independent because of your geographical disconnect? I always assumed Alaskans might be drawn to the location because of an independent nature as well.
    Here are some pictures of my home. No mountains, but the foothills of the Adirondacks are part of the scenery.

    http://badmonkeymadness.blogspot.com/2006/08/peace.html

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  10. I visited Alaska in 2006.I had been wanting to go since I was 8 years old.It was the most incredible experience I have had in my life.My Husband surprised me with a 17 day trip and it left me wanting a life time of moments spent just roaming through the beauty that only Alaska has to offer.The 900 pic's I took will have to tide me over until I visit again.

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  11. You make me miss home. I am a native of Palmer. I only lived there for 4 years before I "escaped" but lately I have been having the urge to "go home". My mom had that same urge in 96 which led us back up there. (I lived there when I was a kid). I guess people that live in Alaska never let it leave them. My parents still live there as well.

    I am going to book mark your blog. and live vicariously through your pictures.

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  12. I have not been blogging much lately, or looking at blogs, etc... Just dropping in. How are you?

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  13. Cool pics. I love the arctic landscapes. Too bad they're all disappearing with climate change. Enjoy while you can. Wonder who put the egg there.

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  14. Great place you live in.

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  15. Greetings from New Zealand Jill, I love your blog and stop over quite often :)
    For those of us who have been to Juneau (I visited in 2001) and love the place, could you maybe let us know where you took all your beautiful pictures? Keep blogging!!

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  16. Love the peek into your world up there. I've always wanted to visit Alaska and someday will. This is one of my favorite types of blog post...thanks!

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  17. nice photos! glad to see the Easter Bunny made it up north! I like the egg photography; cute idea

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  18. Hi, dropped by from Blogs of Note. Congrats on getting on it, by the way.
    Love the scenery. Hard to imagine people living in places surrounded by such loveliness.

    Keep writing.

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Feedback is always appreciated!