An Alaskan- based writer wins a Pulitzer Prize! Tessa Hulls was at work making sandwiches for state lawmakers at the capital in Juneau yesterday when she heard she had won. Here is the story from the Beacon.
Her book Feeding Ghosts is a graphic memoir about three generations of Chinese women — Tessa, her mother and grandmother, and about historical family trauma. Tessa was a fellow at Storyknife, the fabulous writers retreat in Homer founded by bestselling author Dana Stabenow. (I am a supporter and sent a donation today in honor of Tessa.)
In lesser news, this morning there was a sow and her little bear cubs on the beach, then they took a walk up the hill and back down again, apparently checking out the neighborhood. Which means secure trash, keep a clean camp, turn the electric fences on and watch your step:
Never mind that it was windy ( It’s been very windy, Aleutians windy) and 35 degrees and the road was wet when we hopped on our bikes, and that when we climbed the last hill, at all of about 6 mph (it’s steep), Stacy was at the top, on her way to work at the Haines Animal Rescue Kennel ( HARK) and heralded us with, “Did you see the mama and cubs?” She pointed just behind us. She still had her phone up for the photo op.
No, we didn’t pedal between the mother and her babies, and we didn’t see or hear them. Still, it boosted my cadence effortlessly.
What else is new? The track meet was canceled due to epic rains which flooded it on Thursday. The prom went on and the rain ceased for long enough to take pictures outside, although the girls looked freezing in their summer gowns, and the Hospice of Haines annual rummage was a resounding success, raising about 14,000 dollars. I struggle with so much junk leftover that goes to the dump, on the one hand–
But on the other– as my daughter reminded me ( she is always right) — it is a great community service, this recycling of goods, and yes, the disposal of some of it too– Maybe it’s age, or maybe it’s because it is the time of year when the flowers on the altar are in memory of my parents– but it feels like rummage and Hospice fit together. There’s a lot of grief in letting go of stuff, especially things someone we loved, loved — but that we don’t and just can’t keep, can’t sell and sometimes, can’t even give away. The clean up went very quickly, and was proof, as Bill said, that “many hands really do make light work”, and proof too, that I live in a nice place, full of helpful, capable people who care about one another.
Here are some upcoming events that may be fun for you– or may lead to your residency at Storyknife, or who knows? To publication, and that book could win a prize– or be bought at a rummage sale for a good cause, or at least picked up by someone to read and share. (One of mine was taken from the free pile on the last day.) I am part of a writing and speaking series that Ruth Underhill, of Tongass Mist Writing is putting on this summer in Southeast, Alaska. There are Zoom workshops ( I think there is one this week with me, even), events in Sitka and a retreat in Tenakee Springs ( my other home…) The details are here.
Finally, in the interest of simplifying my life while expanding the audience, I am considering moving this blog to Substack. It would still be free, but the folks over there would send it out to you. You would have to sign up again (or not) and manage an account there, which seems simple enough, and I could help point the way. It also will mean I will blog more and may add other stuff like a podcast. If you have strong feelings against this, please let me know. It will help me to decide. Thank you.
