A tiny part of me felt like I was committing a sacrilege when I boarded Alaska Airlines flight 153 for Anchorage last Friday evening. Since nearly all KNOM volunteers come from out of state, never is there any reason (or enough vacation time) to take a long weekend to the big city.
While I, too, was an out-of-stater, the last three years I’ve spent in Alaska have afforded me more than a few connections and, therefore, vacant couches to crash on throughout the state.
I decided to take my first of the five vacation days we’re awarded for the year for a long weekend in Anchorage. Over the last three years, Anchorage has become like home to me, so returning back never disappoints.
Since arriving in Alaska, a state where I have no known relatives, one of the traditions I’ve latched onto has been Friendsgiving. During my first two years in Fairbanks, my house overflowed with good food and great friends, and last year in Anchorage was a smaller gathering, but special nonetheless.
Despite many of my friends having families of their own nearby, they’re always willing to get together around the holidays. This year proved to be even more remarkable, with my friends in Anchorage agreeing to celebrate Thanksgiving about a month in advance, as I’ll be in Nome for the third Thursday of November.
The stuffing was divine, the sauerkraut just splendid, and the pies did not disappoint. But it was the company, as it always is on holidays, that made it special.
I was able to keep in good company throughout the weekend, catching up with old friends, making some new ones, and taking to the mountains with the ultimate adventure buddy. On Sunday afternoon, my friend Britta and I hiked up Near Point in the Chugach Mountains above Anchorage.
The clouds were but mere wisps, making the panoramic view of the snow-capped peaks to the east and the sprawled city to the west something to write home (or blog) about. Work at the radio station can sometimes seem monotonous, and life in a relatively flat town can feel frustrating, but this is my home now. And knowing that another home of mine is just a flight away? Well, that’s something to be thankful for.
