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It seems strange that June is almost over. Where has the time gone? I guess we all ask ourselves from time to time. I have been wondering it since mid-semester though...especially since I have not written to certain people in some time (*sorry Aunt Mimi and Bob*). Last week, I journeyed above the Arctic Circle for my best friend's wedding. It started off rough with a bad night's sleep and no time to pack (resulting in a mad packing dash about 45 minutes before I was supposed to leave) followed by the girl at the counter telling me I couldn't check my luggage because they weren't accepting any more bags. I just about took out my bridesmaid dress and shoes and said screw the rest, but...instead I somehow got a lucky break and they sent the bag on its way despite the rules.
The morning flight went by pretty quickly and I was in Anchorage before I knew it. Then we caught a flight to Kotzebue which also included a short stop in Nome, Alaska (aka the finish line of the infamous Iditarod Dog Sledding Race). Nome is tiny and from the air, looks like a bunch of warehouses because
all of the buildings have steel roofs. Once I arrived in Kotzebue, I got my luggage and headed across the parking lot to Frontier Air for my flight to Kiana. Once we boarded the small 8-seat airpline that took us to Kiana, I was pretty spent. We had to make one stop and by around 6:30pm, I was in Kiana -- a small village up above the Arctic Circle. There was my best friend, totally in her element, smiling as the mosquitoes attacked us and tried sucking all of my blood. We rushed off quickly to the cafeteria where her reception would be and I joined in on the decorating even though I looked and felt like crap.
I was so surprised at how warm and inviting all of the people of Kiana were though. They weren't just inviting but they had stories to tell and treated me just like family. We were shuffled off to the stay at the Pastor's cabin with the minister, Avis, who was conducting the ceremony for Vicki and Justin. While there, people flooded in and out constantly checking up on us, stopping by to say hi, trading stories, and bringing us food. I
even got to spend some time with Vicki and laughed with her friends. During the wedding ceremony, my best friend looked radiant and more happy than I had ever seen her look!! That night, we laughed with my married best friend, Mrs. Victoria Fanny Phillips-Morris, laughed with one of my favorite people (Lisa), laughed with Avis and Vic's cousin, Nanna, Vic's sister Lorena, and some of the younger girls that were at the Pastor's Cabin. We traded funny remarks about the day, how Nanna had almost ran over me and my dress when it was time for us to go eat (hehe, because the little one growing in her was demanding food), how my escort had been talking about me and called me "That Chick" which apparently meant that he liked me, and how a 77-year-old man named Rudy was completely in love with Lisa because she could cook. That night, I laughed and giggled at Avis' tale about how she had painted her toe nails and then put her nylons on, but they got stuck on her toenails because she hadn't let them dry. And I just enjoyed being in Kiana. I enjoyed the fact that all of the
people had been so nice and were constantly attentive to us. And by the fun and interesting ways of the village of Kiana. It was amazing how the people of this village were all so close and watched each other's back. They borrowed sugar from neighbors, gave each other stuff when the store (expensive and small store) was closed, didn't call each other on the phone but made random announcements and called each other on channel 68 of the VHF (only when some said, "Go 69" did you change the channel and have a private conversation but all conversations were public on these hand-held radios), and accepted a white girl into their village without any dispute. I loved how friendly they all were and the stories I got told by Thomas, Frances, Rudy, Avis, Lil-Man, Catherine, Taylor, Nanna, Lorena, and all of the other people that let me take a glimpse into their lives. Sadly, our time did end and it was sad saying goodbye to my best friend. Thank you Kiana for letting me visit you even for a short while. It was an experience I will never forget!
I was thinking about my visit today as I
went out to the university to visit Lisa . While there, I was surprised to be invited to an important event. Apparently, in the Tlingit tradition, a new drum is ordained through a birthing process in which it must be played to be brought to life. And Bruce Gifford, one of the head haunchos at UAS, was given a drum by his wife so a student painted an Eagle and Raven on it and Kolene James, the leader of the Native Rural Student Center, brought the drum to life. Such a great experience!!
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April
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Hi BUGG!!!
Please don't be sad. it breaks my heart when you are upset. =( I have been on top of the mountain with Dad, Christina, John, and Luke for the last five days out of nine. That's why I don't have my phone or I would call. I bet the wedding was beautiful and so were you. I love you!!!