I know it has been a common sentiment that this year’s KNOM volunteers are like a family. Yes, it’s true. We’ve already made time for morning gym adventures, dinners, dance parties and movie nights. Laura, our amazing coordinator/Captain Planet, gave us another opportunity to “get away” this past weekend for a volunteer orientation.
Over the river and through the woods…er…through the tundra, to Pat & Sue’s house we go! Woo-hoo!
A special thank you to Pat & Sue for being so gracious and sharing their cabin with us. I don’t think we could have asked for a more picture perfect place to be. At orientation, we shared about community living, & we were blessed to learn from Ric about the history of KNOM, and about local culture from Richard, Bob & Vera. We watched the sun go down, had a bonfire on the beach, fell asleep on the floor by the fire, & woke up to pancakes, bacon & eggs on Saturday morning – and coffee!!!
My favorite memory of being at the cabin was sitting together around the fire, eating homemade wildberry pie (Yum, Laura!) and sharing stories about life and our hopes & dreams for our time here in Nome & at KNOM. I felt like I had stepped back in time to a simpler era – where people’s stories captivated, silence was valued, and warmth came not just from the fireplace, but also from the company. Even though the time at the cabin flew by, I will remember these little moments for years to come.
