Blog

Checking In
Joy is not made to be a crumb.- Mary Oliver Hi, I have been thinking of you. I have been in Tenakee for most of March, shoveling snow! So much snow, every day, and working on and on off on a couple of projects, a how-to write an obituary book, a collection of essays,...
A Good Story about Justice and Mercy
The Elizabeth Peratrovich Day celebration was just what I needed — I know it’s only one small chapter in the book of time bending toward justice, as Martin Luther King Jr. said—but it felt bigger. The event, on a Tuesday morning at 9:30 in the Haines School gym,...
Who Are We? Calling all Senators
“We can write our senators, particularly now this week, when funding for these agencies is being debated. Perhaps the most important message of all is that this is our moment to determine who we are as Americans, who we are as the United States of America.Minnesota is...
How to Handle Heavy Weather
I would have kissed Lyle if I was in the studio with him when he gave the Safety Talk on KHNS. Well, I would have liked to, but I’m a tad more reserved than that, still, I might have hugged him. My volunteer fireman retired teacher neighbor does not use words like...
Keep an Eye out for Epiphanies.
The priest began his Epiphany homily with the old joke: If three wise women had traveled to see the birth of baby Jesus, they would not have needed to follow a star. They would have asked for directions, and they would have arrived on time, no doubt a little early...
A Post Card From a Record Snowfall, Even for Alaska.
At least I've heard it's a record, and it sure feels like one. The sun came out yesterday, the north gales continue, and the highs are around 15. The pool opened again this morning, and a few of us were even there. Heavy snow is forecast for Monday. In the meantime we...
Wishing for a Lucky New Year (And It’s Still Snowing…)
“One must have a mind of winter…” Wallace Stevens from his poem, The Snow Man The winter storm warning continues until noon today. It’s still dark and snowing hard. Chip has already shoveled the paths for us and the dogs, and we are waiting for Jack and his loader to...





