It's 8:30 here, and the sun's shining as if it were 3 in the afternoon. Every extra minute the sun lingers in the evening energizes my soul. My 9:30 bedtime slides back later and later every night and I have yet to notice it in the mornings, which is nice. And even though the most recent weather has been riddled with raindrops, we're enjoying the mud more than the ice from the previous months. Maybe we'll even catch a glimpse of another double rainbow before we venture out to the lower-48 for the summer.
It's perfect bird-season for the hunters up here, and anyone with a boat and a gun is anxiously awaiting the big "break-up" of the river. Some of the men challenged the Nushagak and (prematurely) took their boats out the other day, crossing over to the other bank to do some goose hunting. While I'm known for being a nervous-Nelly in most circumstances, I was happy to know I wasn't the only one worried for their safety, or sanity for that matter. Luckily, everyone made it home safely.
There's talk that the break-up will be any day now, which to some, is an over-due holiday. The river is this area's greatest asset, providing travel, food, money and hobbies to anyone blessed by its presence. To most around here, winter has already outstayed it's welcome. It'll be intriguing to observe the last stages of hibernation unfold as the village livens up again. The weather's warming up, the river's showing speed, and the rest of God's creatures are beginning to settle into their loop within the circle of life again.
One of my administrators brought a bear home a couple of weeks ago, and she (the bear) was a vivid reminder of the part each organism plays in the food chain. She was a a pretty big specimen, with paws spanning the width and length of a grown man's hand. From nose to toes, she was probably pushing 6 feet tall and sported a rich brown coat. I was reminded of where I fit in the food chain as I stared at the skull, which size-wise, competed with the circumference and volume of a junior basketball. Had I not been in the middle of finishing dinner for Brandon, I would have had half a mind to take a picture, but I'm sure it wouldn't have done her justice. In addition to the visual display, the hide wreaked of fish, definitely one of the least appetizing scents to smell right before dinner, but we managed. While it's a little scary to think I'm surrounded by such wild-life, there's part of me that cannot wait for the opportunity to see more of it in action in the upcoming years.
We're encroaching on the last two weeks of school, and I can honestly say I've never felt more prepared for summer. Obviously, this is home for us now, which makes a visit back to what used to be "home" seem like an extended vacation. I've already begun a grocery list a mile long, going as far as bidding on and purchasing multiple coupons on Ebay for the bulk-buying we'll be doing while we shop amidst civilization. To add to my excitement, I have finished writing what might be my last IEP ever. I have been placed into a regular ed. position next year, giving me the 6th grade classroom I've been working towards since college graduation. I'm thankful I was open minded and willing to take the opportunities I've been given and utilize the experience I've gained as stepping stones. Hopefully, this will be the last of many big changes and I will be able to cozy into this position for the next few years until our next big adventure.
The dogs have been doing well, but we could do without Daisy mentoring Huxley in what not to do when movement occurs within a 40 foot radius of the perimeter of our apartment. The barking has been ridiculous as the activity increases with the warm weather and sunshine we've been experiencing. Daisy's reputation has grown around here, and in most circumstances, served us well, scaring off one particular guest who's been known to let himself into some of the other teachers' houses without an invitation, or host, for that matter. While we know she's harmless, most of the kids around here keep their distance. A week ago, while trekking through our yard, one student was startled so badly by Daisy's barking, that she was literally scared out of her shoes, and ran away in her socks, leaving her shoes stuck in the mud in our yard. The little boys of the village, trying to help her, thought they'd outsmart Daisy by throwing rocks and sticks at her to distract her. At the time, Brandon was infuriated by what seemed to be malicious actions towards his pup. But after a little discussion about what we'd imagine to be an 8 year old's perspective, the situation was quite comical; bringing back scenes of Sandlot and the problem-solving the children did to avoid the "vicious" dog in hopes to retrieve the beloved baseball. In hind-sight, we're glad Daisy could be the source and inspiration of a child's upcoming journal entry or personal narrative.
Overall, life is as it should be. The count-down has begun, making tomorrow 17 days away from our 11PM departure flight from Anchorage to Chicago. We plan to celebrate my sister's birthday that Saturday at a Brewer game in Milwaukee, and shortly after, welcome Brylee Jo into the world, spend the entire summer cuddling nieces and nephews, catching up with family and friends, and relaxing in temperatures above the brisk 40s we've been experiencing lately. Believe me, we'll take 40s over -20s any day, but it'll be nice to get sunburned instead of windburned for a change. I personally plan to live solely on purchases from Madison's, Ankeny's and Des Moines' farmers markets, as I know the summer will disappear, leaving me little produce to look forward to once we're back to Alaska's latitudenal disadvantages of garden growing.
I can see the beautiful pink of the sunset reflecting off of the apartment building next door, telling me it's nearly half-past 10 and time to head to bed. It was easy to get carried away writing tonight, knowing the laundry was caught up, all paperwork and grading was finished by 5, and Brandon was preoccupied with homework and Tiger Woods Golf.
See you in less than 3 weeks!
Love,
Brie
Last night marked the official reference point to pull me out of the slumps when I feel like what I do is insignificant. 14 graduates accepted their diplomas or certificates of completion. 14 graduates gave moving speeches about their accomplishments, their goals and their biggest supporters, forcing audience members to proudly watch on through distorted, fishbowl images because of welling tears. 9 out of those 14 graduates were in my room, asking for help to put into words what their hearts wanted to say, polish what they'd already written, and gain confidence to speak in front of hundreds of people. I felt useful and honored, that out of the many options they had, they came to me for help to write one of the biggest speeches that most of them would ever write.
I knew I made a difference, when walking out to begin the ceremony, I caught eyes of a few of them and their close-mouthed grins turned into full-on smiles; eyebrows raised to say, "We're actually doing it!" Following the the ceremony in the receiving line, the first words out of many of their mouths were, "How did I do?" I had one proud mother say, "She did it! She talked!" I didn't need a shout out to know I impacted their day, it was just really nice they reaffirmed it by making sure I was impressed.
Prom celebrations followed graduation. It was so cool because the senior class fundraised for the dresses the girls wore, the kuspuks the boys wore, the band, and the decorations. I remember girls not attending my prom because they couldn't afford it. How cool is it that they removed one huge factor that would have otherwise prevented many from participating? The computer lab was used to get ready. Three or four of us were curling and straightening hair, taking pictures and enjoying the primping process. The girls looked like princesses, and the boys, their Alaskan princes, sported the traditional kuspuk. I was floored to learn that even the youngest of dancers at prom knew how to dance. A full band flown in from Anchorage, echoing classics from Patsy Cline, Johny Cash, and other country legends, was the base for the entire dance-floor's 2-step. How refreshing it was to see dance-steps versus the bump-n-grind crap I'm used to seeing on the floor!
These last weeks really gave me a great opportunity to get to know the sudents on another level. I was so impressed by how resilient our students really are and how supportive the community is after learning about some of the struggles they've endured and those who have opened their homes and hearts to support them through them. I'm a little disappointed it took so long to make such a connection with some of these seniors, as I thoroughly enjoyed the recent times we've spent interacting. I'm thankful and truly enjoyed celebrating graduation and prom with the community.