- Launda

Alaska Is...  

...waiting for the whales to sing and dance.
...seeing the mighty moose protecting her calves.
...sea otters playing in icy waters.
...feeling the heat at the bottom of Healy, climbing to meet cold winds at the summit that dried the sweat of the trees.
...mud and ice on the ascent up Exit Glacier, followed with a slide downward on the snow-stained, June mountain in cheap, waterproof pants that ripped, exposing pink, poorly dressed legs in shorts.
...oatmeal with blueberries, hot and steamy, served by men with bushy mustaches.
...yoga on cliffs overlooking a chilled sea that meets the glowing, white mountains, made possible in the land of the midnight sun.
...running a first 10k at midnight, lit by the temporary summer sun.
...seeking free showers, clean toilets, and cheap laundry spots.
...letting go of cleanliness, inspired by the phrase ìsuck it up cupcakeî.
...late night sandwiches, new friends, wobbly beach trees, and the love of boats.
...watching large numbers of kids grow in ways that would amaze their parents.
...being led by a man who resembles Mr. Claus in both appearance and heart with a lot of spirit.
Finally, Alaska is the wilderness of the soul, a journey to self, a place of interconnection with all of life.

Final Reflections