- Clay

Alaska Is...

                  Alaska is like a country road.  It wanders through rolling hills and takes you around the bend.  A country road might have some bumps and bruises, but it always leads you to where you need to go.  A road like this always has its own adventures that we can all experience and it has its own stories that we can all listen to.  While traveling this winding path, one can see many different people, lifestyles, and perspectives.  A country road can sooth the soul, calm the mind, and lighten the heart.  It’s a two-way track that takes you to and from one place to another.  No matter where you’re going, or where you’ve been, a country road will always take you home.  “Take me home country road, to the place that I belong…”

Final Reflections

When you think of Alaska you may ponder about the mountains, the ocean, and the towns.  Those were my original views of Alaska, having experienced this trip once before.  Now, six years later, I see it through a different pair of wondering eyes.  Instead of just seeing a mountain, I see the steps you have to take to get to the top.  Instead of just seeing the ocean, I see the life that it withholds and the purpose that it serves.  Instead of just seeing the town, I see the people and the stories they have to share.  Once can draw many conclusions about Alaska, but simple is not one of them.
            Now, coming back after such a long absence, I see things that I had never noticed before.  I have learned that it is worth your while to go down that extra trail and spend that extra time down by the river rather than in your tent or van.  It really is the “little things” that you come to cherish, love, and remember from this awe-inspiring place. 
            Living the way that we have here in Alaska, we get away from all the day-to-day baggage that we tend to carry with us.  You learn to take your mind off the drama that distracts us during our every day lives.  The experience of being on this trip settles the heart, mind, and soul of a person.  Some may say that they find a home here in Alaska, but I say that I find a little bit of peace.