I have been offered a position as the Librarian / Media specialist for the Iditarod School District. If I take the job, I will be living for the next year (on a one year grant) in McGrath, Alaska. Since McGrath is in the interior, it's going to be a lot different from living on the Kenai Peninsula. The school district consists of 8 villages, 6 of which are checkpoints in the Iditarod Race on the odd number year. Everything stops in the villages at that time so that everyone can volunteer for the race. I will fly to the other villages for workshops to educate the teachers and volunteer librarians about the importance of good literature in literacy (the basis of the grant).

I talked at length today with a teacher there in McGrath (the speical education teacher who will retire in December) and learned a lot I hadn't found on the internet. There are two churches: St. Michaels Catholic and a nondenominational best know as " the Other Church." You can eat out at the Tukusko House, the Iditarod Cafe, or with advance notice, the McGrath Hotel, and on Friday evenings, one of the two pubs has steak dinners. There is an Alaska Commercial for buying groceries and "The Shop" which she described like a trading post - she said you can get vegetables there, or thermal underwear or an umbrella, and if they don't have something you need, they will try to get it for you. One can also order from Costco and have it flown in, but I was afraid to ask what the shipping cost since a round-trip to Anchorage is about $400. There is a medical clinic, but the closest hospital is Soldotna. McGrath is also listed as one of the nations top 10% of cities with wealthy single men - but since the average age is 33, and knowing about Alaska single men, I'm not expecting much.

I haven't told anyone else in the family yet so please don't mention this in email or phone call - YET. I did have a phone interview yesterday with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Education and am hoping it will verify God's will for me. My daughters are very against me going back to North Carolina, but I do have a reputation back there and lots of friends. I also would love to work at protecting the environment and it would be more than a year long position. If you work for the satate, you can take any college class at a state college for $30.; a Ph'd might be possible. Not that it would help in getting a job, but it would fulfill a life ambition. I've been able to put Iditarod off for a bit of time since I cracked a tooth and have to have it crowned before I can leave.

But, one of my best friends was raised in the Alaska bush and was unhappy when I mentioned NCDEE. She points out that I would make great money in Alaska, with no state tax. and have no place to spend it, so I should come out with a good bit saved. I am planning to come out at least two or three times during the year - Christmas Holiday, when Jim and Charmin get their baby (from Vietnam) and if something happens to Mom. She (Mom)'s going to be the hard one to tell.

(This is part of an email message sent to Aric, Pia and the boys)