I have a shortage of pictures and words this week. Not sure what my problem is but there has just been little in the way of news. We did have a going away party for our Lead Ranger this past Sunday evening at the “White” house. She is moving to Death Valley National Park in Death Valley, California. She has been in Sitka for 2 years and did such a fabulous job. She will be missed and we all wished her well as she gets closer to family in this move. We also had to say goodbye to Aries, her faithful companion. That made us all very sad.
The Sitka Summer Music Festival began last week. I attended my first concert Saturday evening. It was truly incredible. A Performance by the Attacca Quartet was astounding. These 4 young people are simply beyond talented. They formed at Julliard in 2003, played at Carnegie Hal in 2007 and was selected in 2015 as the Quartet in Residence by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. And here they are in Sitka playing to a crowd of about 50 people with the ocean as their backdrop. WOW! Just WOW.
Tonight my housemate Amanda (boy am I going to miss her when she leaves) and I are attending another concert. For those of you who are familiar with the cello you will recognize the name Zuell Baily. He has been featured with multiple symphony orchestras, not the least of which was Indianapolis (for my Indy friends). He is here for the entire festival and will be playing this evening as well. What we see here during the Sitka Summer Music Festival is really beyond expectation. It lasts for about a month and for anyone who loves classical musical, I encourage you to add this to your bucket list. The venues are very small and the talent extremely large. What an opportunity for those who attend.
This week has been quite rainy. Not our usual misty rain but more downpours as we get in certain areas of the lower 48. Thursday night the rain was hard and the winds were strong. It reminded me of an Indiana rain storm. Friday morning the rain continued and I learned that rain pants in your backpack offers no help in staying dry. You have to put them on! On my walk between locations I experienced a full on water spray from a truck “speeding” down the street at 40 mph. They hit the puddle hard and the spray was a mighty force, landing dead center on this lonely person walking down the sidewalk (which was me!) Drenched, I moved on to work where I never did dry completely before closing shop at 5:00 and returning home under the continued rain. It took a while to get warm again. You’ve heard the expression “cold bones”, well, I had them all afternoon!
This coming Monday will mark my 68th birthday. I’ve been blessed with gifts and cards. Melissa and the kids sent decorations as well as cards and added gems to my beloved hankie collection. Amanda (my housemate) is making dinner for me and we will celebrate with friends. It will be one of those birthdays to remember for years to come.
Thanks to all for the birthday cards and wishes. I had forgotten how valuable hand written notes were and how enjoyable they are to read and re-read. I found boxes of cards after my mom passed away that she had kept for years and often re-read them. I can honestly say I never really understood why she would do that and honestly thought it a little odd. Wish she was around to apologize to her as I now more fully understand how important these cards are and how you can relive the moment over and over again. I keep every card and very often sit down with them before bed to enjoy them over and over. The words, the writing, the artwork . . . all the expressions of love are not wasted and bring my heart incredible joy. We should all remember this and send our loved ones, even if they are close by, a handwritten note now and then. It’s a worthwhile experience for all.
We have a third housemate . . . Francesca arrived this past Monday and will be working with the collections department as a museum collections intern until December. She is in her mid 20’s and recently graduated with her masters degree. She is from New York and will be a great addition to the park’s cultural center. I’ll get some pictures before I leave so you can “meet” her in pictures.
I continue to embroider and am now working on quilt blocks for a very special boy who loves frogs. I’ve also made it my mission to watch the entire “24” tv series and am now on the final season. I will be sad to see it end as I’ve found Kiefer Sutherland to be a good actor. I’ll catch up on the new “Designated Survivor” when I return to the lower 48 as I read he is in that one as well.
Less than 3 weeks left for me in Sitka and then I will return home to Virginia. It’s been a wonderful trip and yet I am ready to return home. I’ve missed everyone and look forward to enjoying some time with them again real soon.
Jen and the boys will be visiting Virginia in August, September will include a road trip to Indiana for time with family and friends, and October will include a trip to San Francisco with Melissa and the kids to show them where their grandparents (my mom and dad) were married and lived while Dad was in the service. Big plans for 2018 include a high school Graduation for Cameron and a PhD graduation for Melissa. And along with all of this I hope to do more volunteer works in the park.
We will talk again next week. Till then, take care and be blessed. Here are a few more random pictures just for fun.
