Alaska And Me

"Here's to Alaska, here's to the people, here's to the wild and here's to the free. Here's to my life in a chosen country, here's to Alaska and me."

       

                               

 

I have been feeling some big Alaska love over the last eight weeks, and this lovely John Denver song sums it up. It's wild and free here, everything I wanted and more. Everything I didn't know I needed, didn't realize I was chasing, and never dreamed of finding. There was a moment when I'd first arrived and was getting settled in Anchorage when I looked east toward the mountains and thought, "this is where I'm supposed to be; I'm meant to be here." My thinking was and is that all the moments in my life thus far, the adventures, the exploring, the playing, the climbing...they all led up to here and now, having the courage to move to the wilderness and to thrive here.

And I have to say, I absolutely love it here. This is my place. This is my home and my young, new love. It is not infatuation, it is not a fling, it is not fleeting or brief; my love for this place is real, true, deep, and ever-changing.  I have amazing people who will do life with me side-by-side, mountain-by-mountain. We hike, we kayak, I'm sure we'll camp and ski and climb...just give me time. :) Bloomington, IN will always be my true home, my family home, but Alaska has so much to offer and I've loved everything she's given me so far. I can't wait to live through season changes, to watch the wildlife follow their migration patterns, to see seasonal workers and tourists come and go. I can't wait to camp and kayak more, hike more peaks, and climb glaciers I've seen up close.

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A lot has happened since my last post, and I have been neglectful of this blog, in part due to adventuring, and also due to feeling overwhelmed by all the wonderful (and some less wonderful) things I want to share with everyone. And so now I will attempt to provide a thorough snapshot of the last two months of my Alaskan life. Thorough snapshot is an oxymoron, isn't it...? Oh well. :)

May:

• Anchorage Market and Festival - artists and vendors displaying the goods of their trade, fresh produce, live music, and incredible food.
• Thunderbird Falls and Eklutna Lake - exploring the lovely falls with Patty and Sarah, feeling like Pocahontas on the edge of a cliff, crossing a creek on a log bridge, and skipping rocks in a beautiful lake, dreaming of future "Elk tuna" lake hikes, and driving to Palmer to find very little to do there.

 

•  Seward, Seward, Seward - driving south through Chugach and Kenai, marveling at the beauty, driving along the Seward coast to a lovely campground where we spotted a whale (or maybe it was a porpoise), seeing Sarah's first moose on the way home (and her yelling and nearly making me run us off the road), and filling up our water bottles with fresh water straight from a pipe sticking out of the mountain!
• Byron Glacier (again) - walking and hiking up toward the glacier with Patty, Sarah, my friends Amy and Lauren, and other new friends, standing on the avalanche snow, and finding my first ever real-life porcupine (we scared him up a tree, the poor guy).
  

• Flattop - hiking with Miss Lauren Bear, the elevation gradually rising, the trail getting steeper and steeper. The hike started out on a nicely maintained path and ended with scrambling up the vertical, rocky mountainside to reach the top. It was amazing to make it and to be rewarded with incredible, indescribable views. We spend quite a bit of time enjoying and meditating at the top, and then we left our mark as others have done before us: we used large rocks to make the IU symbol on the flat peak. :) Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoosiers!

June:

• Seward and Fox Island - kayaking with my work friend Al and our awesome tour guides, Ben and Bobby, from Sunny Cove Sea Kayaking. Check them out if you're interested in an awesome kayaking adventure! We were geared up and educated before climbing into our kayak for the day. We saw waterfalls, jumping fish, otters, porpoises, puffins, eagles, and the most incredible nature views...truly spectacular! It was hard work all day and there was a misty rain most of the day, but it was quite perfect. The boys had packed hot water for coffee/tea on the spit and sack lunches to eat in God's Pocket, and they shared a lot of cool information about the wildlife and geology of the area. At the end of the day, we joined Lauren and Michelle after their cruise and were served a delicious dinner at the lodge. Fox Island is a must do adventure in AK and one I'll do again in the future!
• Symphony and Eagle Lakes in Eagle River - Amy, Lauren, Michelle, and I were true explorers when we hiked 5.5 miles to find two lakes with water from two different glaciers, tucked away in Eagle River. The hike was long and mostly flat, and so worth the time! We spoke in British/Australian/"something like that" accents and shared pineapple and peanut butter. We hopped from rock to rock with occasional grace. Lauren, characteristically fell in the water, I characteristically climbed straight up the side of the mountain like the true mountain goat that I am, and we all felt the pain of the trek back to the car at the end of the day.

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June 16-23: Collin visited Anchorage to be with me on my 25th birthday :)

• Potter Marsh and Beluga Point - visiting the train depot, chasing the train and beating it to Beluga Point, waving at the people on the train, skipping rocks in the waves of high tide, climbing Beluga Point barefoot in our rolled up jeans, and capturing memories and moments in the sun with the water and mountains as our natural backdrop. :D

• Girdwood - hiking the Winner Creek trail to the hand tram for my birthday. Collin and I went with my work friends to Girdwood's Alyeska Resort, parked and walked through the woods, across wooden bridges, to the functional hand tram, which we used to pull ourselves across the river and back. The water was absolutely gorge-ous and there were small rapids with water shooting, tumbling, and crashing in the ravine. Super fun times were had by all. We dined at Chair 5, which was delicious - the halibut soup and teriyaki burger hit the spot.

My birthday festivities were lovely and special, thanks to lots of great people. Collin wanted to surprise me by flying out, but I anticipated and spoiled his plans. He spent a whole week in Alaska with me and loved every minute of it. Like me, he had his own moment of feeling at home here and it was hard to watch him go at the end of an excellent week. Birthdays have always been a big deal for me; we spend time with family and friends, have special birthday dinners, and feel like the the most important people on our birthdays. This year, my 25th, was another milestone for me; I spent my 18th in Guatemala with great friends and a Barney piñata, and I turned 21 in República Dominicana on a mountain with Hillary and new friends. I marked a quarter of a century as an adult with a salaried job, an apartment, a car, budgets and bills, etc., etc., in Anchorage/Girdwood, Alaska! Hillary and Tyler sent me awesome birthday packages, and my mom was sneaky and gave Aunt Patty a card for me to open on my birthday, which she hid from me until the 20th. My wonderful work people surprised me with a decadent chocolate ice cream cake! So many people reached out to wish me a happy birthday, which made me feel so loved and not so far from home. I couldn't have asked for more on my birthday.

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 There are many more stories to share, but they will have to wait for another day.

"We face every day like the first or the last one

  with nothing to lose and heaven to gain.
Here's to Alaska, here's to the people, here's to the wild and here's to the free.
Here's to my life in a chosen country, here's to Alaska and me."

Today Is The First Day

"...Of the rest of my life...

To grow is to change. To change is to be new. To be new is to be young again."

Today, this week, this change is the beginning of the rest of my life. I have successfully completed my first week at All For Kids, and it has been truly excellent! I cannot overstate how welcoming everyone is, how comfortable I feel in the clinic and as a therapist, and how excited I am to start my career here. :D Am I tired? Exhausted. Am I overwhelmed? Not as much as I thought I would be, but still yes. Can I do this? Absolutely! This is definitely where I am meant to be, and I am going to make the most out of it.

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Since beginning my new Alaskan life, my adventures have been deeeeeeeelightful! Details follow:

1) Driving up the hillside

Soon after Aunt Patty arrived to join me, we got busy with finding/buying all the necessities (details below), so we really needed a break to enjoy the beauty of our new home. We took a drive down O'Malley and kept on going up, up, and up the "hill" until we made it to the Upper O'Malley Trailhead at Chugach National Park. The views up there are INCREDIBLE. We could see the beautiful water of the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet, as well as the Sleeping Lady and Denali (known in the Lower 48 as Mt. McKinley) mountain ranges. People actually live all over the hillside and get to enjoy majestic views on a daily basis. New life goal!

2) Buying ALL the things!

If only you could have seen my shopping lists...it was a tad absurd, especially considering that my apartment is furnished. Big "buys": apartment and car leases. Worth it. I love my furnished, comfy, homey, wonderful apartment and my shiny new Subaru Outback (named Dr. Spencer Reid, of course)! Aunt Patty and I visited quite a few apartments, spent over 10 hours car shopping, and took multiple trips to Target, Costco, Fred Meyer (Kroger), and Carrs (Safeway) in order to accomplish our shopping goals. Countless hours and thousands of dollars later, we're settled and life is good.

 

3) Glen Alps and Potter's Marsh

Thanks be to Chris for taking us on our first little Alaskan adventure into the "wilderness." :D We explored a bit more of the hillside, got out of the car and walked on a path up one of the mountain peaks, and drove along the beautiful coastline. And as if that wasn't enough, I FOUND A TRAIN! I climbed on it and everything :)

         

The mountain behind us in the first photo above is Flat Top, which I plan to conquer someday soon! As for the water, I cannot wait to get out on it in a kayak! I have surely found the place where my soul will soar and my spirit will flourish. (Ok, enough of the sappy Pinterest language.)

4) Walk & Roll For Hope with AFK

One of my favorite events in AK to date was the Walk & Roll, which I attended with coworkers from AFK. The 5K walk led us along the cultural trail, which was scenic and hilly. It was such fun to bond with the girls (and Al) before getting busy at work on Monday! If I wasn't sure before I arrived, I knew after the walk that these people were my people and that I would be perfectly happy within my new community. AND there was FREE FOOD at the walk, which they tell me is typical of Anchorage walks! Seriously! I had a hot dog, a bag of popcorn, and a grilled cheese after the walk. A GRILLED CHEESE. I am still not over it, obviously.

5) Byron Glacier day trip

Beluga Point + Portage Glacier + Byron Glacier + Alyeska Resort + Girdwood Bake House

Pictures won't do it justice, but here are a few to tempt y'all. Such a fun trip with Chris, Rusty, and Patty!

         

Yes, that IS a BBC bagel, in case you Bloomingtonians were wondering. :) That bagel has been to quite a few unimaginably beautiful places in its short, yet stale, life. I think it ended up in the trash...but it's in a trash bag in Alaska, so that's pretty impressive to gloat about to other bagels in bread heaven!

Yet another of my personal goals: Climbing to the peak of the glacier behind me (photo above on the right)...it's going to happen, people, and it's going to be ridiculous! It's so funny to me to think that I am excited to climb snow-covered mountains, when I have always been the summer-loving, heat/sweat/humidity-relishing Midwesterner for most of my life. Seriously, if you know me well, think about it; I have always hated the cold, loved sunny, hot summers, and dreamed of living in hammocks on beaches anywhere but landlocked Indiana. And yet here I am in ALASKA, eager to climb glaciers, kayak in icy water, downhill and cross country ski, hike with snow shoes, and cruise around in a snow machine. I hope it's not a phase, but I really think it's an undiscovered passion I now have the opportunity to explore.

6) First week at All For Kids!

No words can truly describe and do justice to All For Kids. My coworkers are fantastic...friendly, welcoming, supportive, encouraging, entertaining, brilliant, motivated, hilarious, loving, and so much more. I started off day one with kiddos on my caseload, which was terrifying and exhilarating, but I was prepared well and felt comfortable asking for help if I needed. My first week had its ups and downs, of course, but my overall stress/anxiety level was significantly lower than I expected. My biggest concern always has been (and probably always will be) to be the best therapist I can be, because my clients deserve the absolute best. As a new therapist, I know that I am definitely not the most experienced, most educated, or most enlightened practitioner in the clinic, but what I do know is that I (with my skills and education) am better than nothing and, more than that, I care. I want to be the best I can be; I need to learn how to be excellent for my kids; and I will do my best everyday to learn and improve. I may not have all the answers today, and I dare say I won't have them in a week, a month, or a year; but my kiddos are going to have fun, they're going to learn with me, and a positive change (one way or another) will come. Insert motivational quote or sarcastic someecard here...

(Patty snapped a photo of me as I headed to work on my first day...
notice the multiple bags, arms full of goodies, and giant coffee mug.)

"To grow is to change. To change is to be new. To be new is to be young again."

I am learning to grow, change, and embrace my professional youth. Now is the time for adventures. Now is the time to push my limits, to test my boundaries, and to break the mold I have created for myself. I live and work in Alaska. This is the beginning of the rest of my life.

Leaving On A Jet Plane

"...Don't know when I'll be back again."

I arrived in Anchorage on Tuesday after an intense packing and move out process. It's been a long week for me; preparing to leave, spending a long day in airports and on planes, learning the lay of the land, hunting for a house and car, and preparing for my first big girl OT job. Life's tough, adulthood is hard, my sister and I agree we should quit. :) If only that were an option. Living is amazing, but life can be difficult.

Things I have learned this week:

1) Plan, organize, execute

When you move 4,000 miles away from home, waiting until the last week to pack up and tie up lose ends is highly inappropriate. Don't get me wrong, I had lists and lists and lists, but did I stick to them? Not so much. I barely got everything done at home before I flew away. Procrastination station, all aboard.

2) Use your people

Do you know other human beings with hands? Use them! My mom did SO much for me, and I couldn't have made it through the week without her. And boyfriends...they're the best! I made Collin a list of tasks I needed completed (and had totally procrastinated thus far), which he completed like a knight in shining armor, while I was enjoying AOTA National Conference in Nashville. I hope your humans are as wonderful as mine.

3) Ziploc Space Bags are incredible

Seriously, they're the most important part of packing a large suitcase (or four). My mom and I condensed my entire closet and dresser contents into 8-10 plastic bags, which fit neatly into my giant suitcases. Who knew all those infomercials were so right? (Disclaimer: the whole thing about not wrinkling your clothes is completely false, but so worth it anyway.)

 

4) Use your network

When traveling or moving, it is vital to have people along the way. I'm so blessed to have caring, loving, hospitable friends with equally wonderful networks themselves. I arrived in AK and was picked up from the airport and given a tour of the area; I have a place to stay, a car to drive, and helpful hints to explore and enjoy Anchorage; and, finally, I receive messages everyday from people here who have heard from friends in the Lower 48 that I am here, asking to take me to dinner, show me around, and help me out in any way they can. Truly incredible!

(Special thanks to Chris, Rusty, Phyllis, and Sandra)

5) Home, then car, then work

I don't know how others handle the whole moving-for-a-job-in-another-state thing, but I would recommend prioritizing tasks based on importance and necessity. I need home, a place to sleep and stay warm. Check. I need a car to drive, so I am independent and free. Getting there. I need to work, because that's why I'm here and that's how the numbers in the bank account go up, not down. Soon, very soon. Yes, I'm in Anchorage for the job, but I have prioritized home and car before work since arriving; with these two out of the way, I can focus on work with a clear mind. (Don't get me wrong, I've been to the clinic twice since getting here; surprise, surprise.)

Is a list of five things a legitimate list? Ten would be perfect, but when a list is done, it's done, you know? Monk would disapprove, but Shawn and Gus would understand.

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During the last few days I spent in Bloomington, I had many visits and moments with loved ones I'll miss more than I can describe. So many wonderful people came to my last minute going away party, to whom I say thank you, I love you. I played with my Grays a few glorious times before saying goodbye. I visited my Sherficks to play with my boys one more time; not to be too dramatic, but they'll never be these ages again, so it was a bittersweet goodbye with E holding back tears and C saying he wanted to leave with me. Don, Suz, and Jaclyn stopped by the house for hugs and laughs, which was a wonderful surprise to me. :) Mom surprised me by giving me a bag of All For Kids gear (water bottle, hand sanitizer, band-aids), which she had requested through email from my boss, who later told me what a blessing it was for her to oblige my mom's thoughtful request. There are so many people I did not have the chance to see in person, but you all know I love and miss you. Such awesome people have raised me and sent me off into the world.

On the evening before my flight, mom, dad, Ame, Sarah, Patty, Collin, Hillary, and I sat around the house with Max and Roo. We talked about everything, about nothing, about me leaving, about their things. I read aloud old stories Ame pulled from the bookshelf, and we remembered how much we used to love reading them with mom and dad. I heard my phone ringing and was immediately confused. I looked around at the living room full of people I love and said out loud, “who is that…everyone’s here.” It was Brittany, of course, calling from Florida. She was the missing piece in my goodbye puzzle. <3 Hugs and love all around, we all said see ya later.

Hillary and I got to cuddle. Ame and I shared the biggest, longest hug of our lives. I told Sarah and Patty I'd be looking forward to their upcoming visits. Mom, dad, Collin, and I had a nice breakfast together, and then they put me on the plane. I will say, goodbyes at the airport are too difficult, but completely necessary for closure. My parents love me and are proud of me, prouder than they can describe, I know. They'll miss me and visit me, but it was probably the most bittersweet for them. Collin will come in September, but it was hard to say goodbye until then. We all made it through; I got on the plane, and they stayed and watched the majestic metal birds fly away.

 

"Leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again."

To The Wild Country

John Denver sang
"Then my heart turns to Alaska and freedom on the run. I can hear her spirit calling me to the mountains, I can rest there. To the rivers, I will be strong. To the forests, I'll find peace there. To the wild country, where I belong."

And so this will be the leading track on my newest playlist, the soundtrack of my travels, as I am moving from Bloomington, IN to Anchorage, AK on Tuesday, April 21, 2015.

A very familiar conversation I have had many times recently:
Me: "I have news"
Anyone I talk to these days: "Is it good news? Did you get a job?!"
Me: "Yes..."
Them: "Uh oh, are you leaving us?"
Me: "Yep..."
Them: "Are you leaving Bloomington?" (I nod) "Are you leaving Indiana??" (I nod again) "Well, how far away are you going?"
Me: "Far...I'm moving to Anchorage. Alaska."
(Silence)
Them: "Are you serious?!"
(insert any number of confused looks, intrigued questions, and unprovoked opinions)

Curiously enough, almost everyone I have told informs me of a friend or relative who lives in or has lived in Anchorage. All of a sudden, Alaska doesn't seem so far away, so unattainable, so unknown. I see and hear Alaska in everything I do these days. New acquaintances I meet on the streets of Bloomington have their stories of the years they lived and loved in Anchorage, telling me how beautiful and peaceful it is, how wonderful the people are, how they wish they were still living up there. Friends and family have called me brave and crazy, they have expressed their surprise and excitement for me, and they have been relentless with opinions and concerns, all of which I have accepted with gratitude and an open mind. I have not made and will not be making a pro/con list. I have weighed my options, considered as many intangibles as possible, and have talked through my crazy concerns with my social support system. In the end, I'm taking a huge risk and starting a brand new, grand adventure. And I'm ready. I'm ready to fly away home, to go north to Alaska, to chase the mountains and rivers and forests, and to join the land of the moose.

Aw, look at that face!

Don'tcha just wanna meet a moooose?!

And when I meet my moose, I'll be thinking about

(http://www.amazon.com/If-You-Give-Moose-Muffin/dp/0060244054)

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A little bit about my plans/an itinerary:

• now-April 15: PACK ALL THE THINGS! (as Allie would say)
• April 16-19: AOTA National Conference - Nashville, TN
• April 21: Indianapolis International Airport --> Ted Stevens International Airport
• crash/squat in a fabulous human being's spare room (aka Krystal, my OT supervisor)
• April 22-24: house/apartment walk-through appointments, car test drives
• April 24: Aunt Patty flies IND --> ANC to be with me!
• April 25-May 3: settle in, obtain furniture and do some nesting, explore Anchorage, visit work
• May 4: first day of work!

I am thrilled to join an incredible team of occupational, physical, and speech therapists at All For Kids Pediatric Therapy (AFK). Visit our website to learn more about services and to see photos and bios of other therapists I will soon call friends. Below are my photos and bio for the website.

"Jessica was born and raised in Bloomington, IN. She received her undergraduate degree from Indiana University and graduated from the University of Indianapolis as a Master of Occupational Therapy. Jessica has enjoyed many adventures so far, including climbing mountains in Guatemala, surfing in Hawai'i, volunteering in Dominican Republic, and touring the south of Ireland. She is thrilled that her first big adventure of 2015 brought her to Alaska and to All For Kids. Jessica loves spending time outside tree climbing, swinging, kayaking, and camping. Her dog Roo enjoys going on long walks and to dog parks as often as possible. When she’s brave, Jessica attempts to master Pinterest recipes and DIY projects at home, while watching IU basketball, Colts football, or Netflix documentaries."

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This crazy adventure began on Friday, February 6th when I received an email from a recruiter with the subject line "OT needed for amazing opportunity in beautiful Alaska." Riding in the car with Collin, I did something uncharacteristic: I didn't immediately delete an email from a recruiter. Instead, I said Alaska out loud, let it float out into existence, and really enjoyed how it sounded coming out of my mouth. Even crazier still, I emailed the contact person, Bob, for the AK position and set the ball rolling. Thus began the ridiculous pseudo collaboration with Bob-from-Jersey-living-in-Florida-are-you-sure-about-Alaska-Schein (I'll explain later).

Flash forward 7 days: Per Collin's recommendation, I emailed All For Kids directly after scouring their website and Facebook page, quickly falling in love with the therapists and their philosophy. From that moment on I was corresponding regularly with AFK (and Bob the recruiter when absolutely necessary) to coordinate a telephone interview, followed by reference reviews and a Skype interview. Finally - rather quickly, actually - I received an offer on March 16th and accepted after a wee bit of negotiation! I did it. I got a real life, big girl OT job. In Alaska. NOT what I expected or what anyone saw coming, I'd say. Then again, I like to be unpredictable every once in a while.

Two things I have learned throughout this process: 1) recruiters have access to incredible job opportunities, so they can be of great use; but 2) professionals, Masters level graduates, human beings with common sense, really, have the skills to land the perfect position without the run-around of a recruiter. Comp Resource Group and Bob, who thinks Alaska and Indiana have the same weather, were helpful for finding my perfect Alaskan job opportunity...and the praise stops there. Bob's email correspondences made it clear that he didn't have all the details about the job, he didn't have a clue which skills OT professionals possess, and he was not going to help me get the job. In fact, I was convinced pretty quickly that if I really wanted the job in AK, I was going to have to overcome the obstacle of Bob and convince the people at AFK that Bob did not represent me and that I am a desirable young professional. That is why I contacted AFK directly, which was vitally important given the fact that Bob emailed them once and neglected to send my resume like he said he would. Bob was a step or four behind for the rest of the process...he offered interview prep, which included encouraging me to have questions for the interviewers and assuring me that Alaska isn't that different from Indiana. I'm really unsure how he thought he was being helpful. His colleague Steven, on the other hand, was a true winner. Apparently he told AFK owners that I was not interested in an on-site interview, so we talked on the phone and Skyped before they made me an offer. Bright side: Bob told me that I really impressed my interviewers, and he was shocked that they chose to make me an offer even though they were interviewing other qualified OTs with more experience. The moral of the story is that we may depend on others to help us out, but we determine our own fates and we must chase our opportunities and see everything through beginning to end in order to succeed. Then again, I'm a control freak and I can't let anything happen without doing it myself. :)

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As I bring this post to a close, I am in search of a home for Roo and me. Searching Zillow and real estate sites, emailing inquiries and requesting viewings. I know I will have people as soon as I get to Anchorage, I'm not worried about that. I'm joining the AFK family and they will care for me and love me and give me the community support and social system I seek. Plus, Aunt Patty is following me out to Anchorage to live with me indefinitely as her next big adventure! So a yard for my Roo deer and a bed for my tired body is next up on the agenda.

"Will we ever find a place, mommy?"

 "Yes, my darling deer, I promise we will."

"To the mountains, I can rest there. To the rivers, I will be strong.
To the forests, I'll find peace there. To the wild country, where I belong."