When I was about eight years old, some friends of my parents sold us an Alaskan Malamute puppy. Mom asked us to name it and when we couldn't come up with anything, she suggested we pull out a map of Alaska and choose a moniker for our new family member. Scrunching my eyes shut, I pointed my finger downward and pressed it firmly onto the map. It landed on a strange sounding place called Sitka.

We named our puppy "Sitka" and from that moment on, I was fascinated with the state that had such strange sounding town names like: Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Kenai, Talkeetna, Ninilchik -mountains named Denali and Chugach - people named Yupik, Innuit and Tlingit... I dreamed of one day visiting/living in this faraway place - it appealed to my adventurous spirit and when we were given that opportunity years later - I was so excited! I remember driving the Alaska Hwy - through Canada and its beautiful Yukon Territory - traveling through Alaska and arriving in southcentral...You know how sometimes you have this feeling of belonging and you don't know why? I knew right away that this magnificent and awe inspiring country was for me! We settled in to our new home and never left - raised four children there.  

A few years ago, I moved to Florida to spend time with my elderly parents. When I mention that I am from Alaska, people comment "why would you want to live there?" and "bet you are glad to get away from the cold".  But a life on the beach isn't for everyone! Don't think I will ever make a beach bunny. The summer sun can be harsh, the humidity stifling at times and the sand is unforgiving in its relentless seeking out of body cracks and crevices - it is also a long drive from one end of Front Beach Rd. to the other in a seemingly endless caravan of tourist conveyances!

Oh, I am not whining. I can hear you light deprived Alaskans now: "why complain when you are enjoying 70-80 degree temps in January and Feb.? Sure, I am human and do enjoy the $1.00 daquiris, warm Gulf waters, and balmy nights and i don't miss our icy Alaska roads, snow plowings that don't occur on time and the dark winter days.  

I guess I truly am an Alaskan woman at heart! I prefer the wilderness/woods - pine for that first Alaska snowfall (when you wake up one morning and your whole world is clean and pure), that rosy Alpenglow above my beloved Chugach Mtns, the fireweed blooming in summer, stopping your car in the middle of Minnesota to watch a moose saunter across, the friendly, helpful nature of our people - all the sights sounds/smells and happenings of life "up top"? I feel so lucky to have called Alaska home! I will never take for granted the unspoiled beauty or quality of live we are blessed with on the last frontier!