I live and write on Lingít Aaní, and gratefully acknowledge the past, present and future caretakers of this beautiful place, the Jilkaat Kwaan and Jilkoot Kwaan.
Dec 9 Hopes and Hoops

Dec 9 Hopes and Hoops

“Based on the evidence, why was I given this day?”- John O’Donohue 11:30 am, Saturday Dec. 9, Chilkat River Beach. North wind, 30 degrees, fine snow. High tide. We walked later because I had a basketball game to watch at 10:00 and another one at...
Dec. 8  Fresh Air and Cozy Sweaters

Dec. 8 Fresh Air and Cozy Sweaters

“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.” – Thich Nhat Hang Dec. 8, 2:30pm, Chilkat River Beach. Windy! 35 degrees. Rain, flurries, then rolling clouds. The weather this morning was so bad it was...
Dec 7 : Let There be Light

Dec 7 : Let There be Light

A Poem from Mary Oliver called “Praying”: “It doesn’t have to be the blue iris, it could be weeds in a vacant lot, or a few small stones; just pay attention, then patch a few words together and don’t try to make them elaborate, this isn’t a contest...
Dec. 6 Haines: It’s a Wet (& Dry) World

Dec. 6 Haines: It’s a Wet (& Dry) World

From NPR this morning, about Norman Lear’s belief that there are two types of humans, wet and dry: “Dry people were calm, cool, unruffled. Wet people were emotional, and impulsive, and things get to them.”   December 6, weds. On the Chilkat. 10 am, 42...
Dec. 5: It Could Be Worse.

Dec. 5: It Could Be Worse.

“Bad weather always looks worse through a window”- Tom Leher 10 am on the Chilkat. 36 degrees. Rainy with a stiff south wind on top of fresh snow. Enough beach to walk on below the snow. “It could be worse,” I said, laughing as we ducked into...
Dec 4 Morning Walk

Dec 4 Morning Walk

“Walking in a winter wonderland…” Well, not exactly. Monday Dec 4 on the Chilkat.  8:35 am.  Dark-ish. 31 degrees.There’s a small craft advisory for north winds to 25 knots, the tide is high, but not that high we had a strip pf wet beach to...