Never Forget

It's impossible for me to not have a heavy heart on a gut-wrenching anniversary such as today. So much has happened since September 11, 2001. It feels unreal to recognize that it has already been 15 years. Fifteen years. Surreal.

I was a freshman at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and was in the midst of an 8:00am German 101 class when the first tower was hit. The liberal arts dean came into the classroom and made the announcement. We all left the room quickly and gathered in the lobby of Morton Hall. This was before the days of social media, before Facebook Live and Snapchat. We all stood there, staring at an old TV atop an even older rolling cart, watching in horror as the news unfolded.

To be completely and ashamedly honest, some of us thought the plane hitting the North Tower was some kind of freak accident, perhaps an inexperienced pilot flying too low. Boy were we wrong. The South Tower was hit by the second plane as we all watched that grainy pixelated television. Then came the news of the Pentagon attack. Many of us wondered if Redstone Arsenal, the large military base near campus, was next.

So much has changed since that fateful day 15 years ago. The world is a different place now. The United States is an altered nation. 9/11 taught us unequivocally that the future is unpredictable and moreso that life is short. The tragedy also taught us that we must always remember. We must never forget.

There are some poignant words I've heard over the years which are fitting for the present day turmoil faced by this world. War creates 1,000 bin Ladens. And only the dead have seen an end to war.

Peace and mercy and blessings be upon you and yours. May God protect us all. 

A New Tradition

I love annual traditions. Like cooking a standing rib roast for Christmas or wearing a special birthday necklace on March 10 or lighting a small candle in honor of my Dad every November 19. 

But this year brings the opportunity to create a new tradition, a way to remember — and celebrate — my dear sweet Momma on her birthday, August 24. 

This first year, I wanted to choose a beautiful tribute for Mom that I could continue from year to year, something to look forward to annually in celebration of the blessing of Mom’s 66 years of life. 

Last summer, Mom and I went berry picking together when she visited me here in Juneau.  We had so much fun seeing who had picked the most berries and teasing each other about wildlife in the woods.  Mom was terrified of bears (caterpillars, too), and I was so proud of her for stretching outside her comfort zone and hanging out in the bushes with me.  We had a blast last summer, and those are some of the memories that sustain me during these dark times.

After much contemplation, I decided that berry picking would be a simple yet poignant way to stay in remembrance of my very Best Friend.  Berry picking is the summer-time stress reliever that sustains the soul and distracts the mind.  Plus, there’s nothing quite like the small pleasure of a blueberry smoothie during the depths of winter, once the snow has fallen and the days are short.  I love berry picking, partly for this reason, and partly because it’s an experience I never had growing up as a city girl in Alabama.  Now, I have another reason to appreciate it more. 

My friend, Lisa, lives “out the road” in prime berry picking territory, and this was the perfect spot to focus on this new tradition and be reminded of quality time with Mom.  This was the same spot where we had picked berries in 2015, so it was even more meaningful of a location.

My dear friend, Sarena, joined us and naturally livened the sombre mood.  Lisa prepared an amazing meal, topped off with carrots, herbs, and garlic from her garden. And I brought Momma’s peach cobbler, always a hit.  It was a wonderful evening with good friends, and Mom's presence was definitely felt — and missed.

With a full stomach, a warmed heart, and a bucket of blueberries in tow, I journeyed home, but not without stopping first at a picturesque roadside lookout.  It was time to put into motion the second part of this newly planned tradition — sending off a sky lantern. 

After pausing to pray, I lit the sky lantern and sent it off while singing “Happy Birthday” to Mom.  It was that one of the hardest things I've ever chosen to do. But I made the choice, the choice to take a moment to remember her and celebrate her and to know without a doubt that she was watching.

The night sky was starless, blanketed by thick clouds, an opaque backdrop as the lantern floated up to the heavens.  That paper sky lantern, fragile as it was, brightened up my dimmed horizon. And I finally felt at peace, for the first time in a very long time.

It's Been 6 Months

Six months ago today, I received a text message that changed my life forever. 

On January 15, 2016, my dear sweet Momma uncharacteristically texted me two no-nonsense words: Come home.  I was more than 3,000 miles away — she in Alabama and I in Alaska.  It wasn't like her to so boldly ask me to come back to Alabama.  I instinctively knew something was wrong, so I booked the first flight out of Juneau.  In what felt like record time, I arrived in Huntsville late that evening.

Sixty-six days later, she passed away, after a long and harrowing fight for her life in Huntsville Hospital.  What began as a gallbladder attack quickly escalated into a medical nightmare, a rollercoaster that no one saw coming, least of all me.

I am still processing everything that has transpired these last six months — from the joy on her face when I arrived at the ICU that first night to the feeling of being in the room when she coded and almost died on January 19.  I'm still recovering from having to put on my "you're gonna be OK" cheerleader game-face as she woke up from a five-day propofol-induced unconsciousness, her wrists tied down and a ventilator pumping her lungs. 

And I'm still overcoming the sudden, unexpected news from an insensitive nurse that my Mother had "expired."  I don't think I'll ever be over the awfulness of saying my last goodbyes and kissing Momma's forehead at the crematorium — but there's one thing that's for sure: talking about it helps. 

This website was founded as a travelogue to share my adventures in Alaska, and in time, I will get back to that focus.  But for now, this is an outlet for me to share and process my grief.  As they say, shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness, when shared, is doubled.

Thank you, friends, for being part of this journey.

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Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Joel Osteen said it best:

"Christmas is the perfect time to celebrate the love of God and family and to create memories that will last forever. Jesus is God's perfect, indescribable gift. The amazing thing is that not only are we able to receive this gift, but we are able to share it with others on Christmas and every other day of the year."

Merry Christmas, y'all!