The following is serious. It is only meant to make me somewhat delirious*.
Has time been wonky for everybody else these past few years? I kid, that was rhetorical. At best. At worst. At everything.
My point this weekend – besides deep breathing and attempting the semblance of real life – is to personally mark this past June as my fifth in Alaska. That is, until I was talking it out with Jules.
Well, yes, it’s my fifth June. Yeah, it’s practically mid-July already. Almost snowing again. Nonetheless, five summers actually means four full years under my belt. (As if I’d wear a belt. Always make that leggings.)
None the lesser, indeed.
The 49th state is a fascinating place to live.
It’s ever-exhausting, perpetually jaw-dropping, complex, brutal, melting, enriching, and wild as can be - and all of those terms can be applied to the land, sea, sky, creatures and us pesky humans.
I’m grateful to be here. Any little write-up would hardly suffice.
So. A quick flow of retrospect:
- continuing to learn, each season, field guides in tow
- having sporadic access to fresh produce, and yet, realizing I’m more at ease & motivated in the kitchen than ever
- adapting to live in the dark for most of the year
- way too much canning (half-kidding, gotta be prepared)
- comprehending camping, and better yet, those midnight sun campfires & fabulously smokey dinners
- wearing a bandana around my neck for function-meets-fashion-meets-function-again (ahem, mosquitos) and more routine plaid than previously imaginable (no longer merely rocking the 90s grunge, nor ‘lower’ Northwestern hipster aesthetics)
- patiently regrowing the half of head I shaved off for years prior, and re-embracing the habitual braids that came before
- pretty much never wearing a bra
- saying farewell to/grieving over the cats of my 20s/30s, and helloooo to “the boys”
- being aptly aware of when the seasons are “bear-spray” appropriate
- moving 3x within the area, including back & forth across the borough in -30(F) below zero and most recently, walking up the block with box after box of cocktail glasses & mugs, precariously avoiding the enormous bull moose brothers intent of chowing down on the willow greens in our shared national park neighborhood
- savoring the natural ambiance, my supportive partner (not to mention the shock & flexibility of going part-time, totally remote & toss in a sourdough side-hustle) and pauses of time, space & sweeping inspiration all around to get writing again, aka starting & keeping this sub’scrap as a place to share words & perspective with anyone who continues to read this far <3
As if this would or could be short & sweet in this day & age.
Gosh, what I really, really mean to say is…
Thanks for sharing this space in your inbox for these ongoing tales & culinary adventures from a third generation new yorker-turned longtime portlander going into her fifth summer in the middle of alaska.
five moments from five summers:
and one more for good measure, same spruce, very different season
Here’s to treading gently & kindly wherever you are on the planet, and however many more summers & missives from the north to follow.
tbd, tba, tbc
- jess
References + Relevant Links, as of late (a rollercoaster):
A Guide to Cloudberries: All About the North’s Most Sough-After Fruit, Scandinavia Standard
Amey’s fabled Vegan Eats & Treats
Homophobic businesses in the US have a powerful ally: the US supreme court, The Guardian June 30, 2023
How to View the Aurora Borealis, Travel Alaska
North to Nenana: Day Trippin’ for Honeyberries, Edible Alaska {Pssst, are you in Alaska? If so, I gently implore you to check out the new Spring/Summer edition of Edible Alaska for two pieces by yours truly - my first time in print in over a decade!! Full circle, eh}
The Supreme Court Just Told Student Debtors to Go to Hell, The Nation June 30, 2023
The Supreme Court Has Killed Affirmative Action. Mediocre Whites Can Rest Easier, The Nation
*And if that opening sounded familiar, going to high school in ‘97 is why. ☮
I enjoy reading your posts so much. Thank you for sharing with us!
Happy fifth summer in Alaska!