It is summer in Alaska, meaning the midnight sun keeps us company throughout the day and night. Days stretch on with endless outdoor possibilities deep into the night and I am reminded of the joy sunshine brings me.
Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high
These days, the Anchorage sun rises at approximately 4:30am and sets around 11:30pm, leaving us with nearly five hours of twilight and less than an hour between last and first light. During our shortest, darkest days the sun rose around 10:15am and set at about 3:40pm, giving us close to five and a half hours of sunshine. Collin and I made it through our first three Alaskan winters in style and like pros. We have learned slowly to get outside during the winter, make the most of the daylight hours, and watch for the clues that summer is on its way.
I do not remember ever knowing this John song by heart, I could not karaoke it, I am sure, but it is my essence, my core, and my truth:
If I had a tale that I could tell you
I'd tell a tale sure to make you smile
If I had a wish that I could wish for you
I'd make a wish for sunshine for all the while
Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high
I can remember so well the feeling of the sun on my face when I would walk into the breezeway connecting Martin and Lilly Halls at UIndy to soak up delicious sunshine between classes or study sessions. It has been three and a half years since I graduated, but I can still feel OT school; I can still smell it, taste it, remember my varying moods and how I felt walking into the building or sitting down at my table...I miss it. And I am grateful for it. I loved school. All I knew was school and books (thanks, TIS Bookstore), so trading books for CEUs and a backpack for a portfolio was a super difficult transition. UIndy taught me the value of collaboration and the importance of using every resource available. So here I am in Alaska at All For Kids, a learning, growing, maturing baby otter. Here I am completely out of my comfort zone and completely stumbling my way through my first few years of practice. And yet I have made it through the hard parts living away from home, working a big girl job, living with a boy, paying all the bills, etc. etc.
If I had a tale that I could tell you, I'd tell a tale sure to make you smile...
Of course I have so many tales to tell, as my last post was two and a half years ago.
2018 has proven to be one of the biggest years for me yet, in which I celebrated my 3rd anniversary with Collin, we got married, and he decided to go back to school. Our life continues to grow and blossom, as we learn more about each other each day, build up each others' strengths, and work together to solve problems. We joked this weekend on our annual friends float trip that we "leveled up" with relationship communication, because we made it down the river with our raft in tact and without arguing. Three cheers for the married couple - sláinte! We look forward to relationship milestones and goals we would like to meet as a couple, making some plans, but letting adventures and opportunities come to us.
Adventures abound in Anchorage and abroad, thanks to our commitment to exploration, as well as my job perks and travel options. Collin and I went to Hawai'i for his first time ever and I went back solo once to visit mi hermanita for the weekend - how cool does that sound? Hawai'i for the weekend! I have been to LA twice with friends for work and play, exploring and geeking out at Warner Bros and Disneyland. We have been up to Denali and Fairbanks and down to Kenai, but have plenty more of Alaska to wander and explore. In September we will be camping in Denali because we won the road lottery like the true Alaskans we are. Our wintermoon is pending a decision and booking the tickets, which we look forward to in the dead of Alaskan winter. Meanwhile, we are enjoying lake days, hiking, and soaking up the midnight sun with friends and pups.
Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Summer in Alaska makes time fly
