November 23 - Thursday

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!


Amount the many, many thing for which I am thankful is the house where I live. It's the Royal Falcon B&B, which does not include breakfast because Laural has to be at the airstrip early to prepare for PenAir incoming (ETA 9:15) and outgoing (ETD 9:45). In rural Alaska, the 'estimated' part of that is very significant. Laural fixes delicious evening meal instead and since I eat bacon and eggs every morning, I kind of appreciate it. It is a wonderful place with wonderful people. The house may not look like much to some of you who have never been in Alaska, but it is well designed and well built. My room is the window above the porch. The window higher on the left is the living-room. The south wall of the living-room is all windows to warm the house in winter sun light. The plants thrive in the sunlight and Mike has had a hibiscus blooming almost constantly since I arrived. The lower left window is the office and the lower right is the other boarder's room. The kitchen is behind my room and has the only north facing window, which you see on the side. The walls of the house are 10 inches thick and well insulated. We often have to open a window because the house is too warm. When the house was built, they had solar heating, but took it out because it was much too hot. To build a house like this, all the materials must be flown in on air cargo and Mike said this house took two whole planes. There is no escrow mortgage; everything has to be purchased at one time.

Mike and Laural are in Fairbanks to share Thanksgiving dinner with most of their children. Carla, their youngest is home for a visit from Israel where she lives and works. I will get to meet her next week when she returns with them. One daughter and her Honduran husband live in Anchorage and their son lives in Fairbanks with his Russian wife. Their oldest daughter's family will not be with them since they live in China.

Thanksgiving dinner will be with the assistant superintendent and her family and other friend. I already had a wonderful Thanksgiving experience. Yesterday, the school cafeteria fixed Turkey and all the traditional side dishes and the whole community was invited. There had to be at least 200 people there. Parents ate with their children before the early 2:00 release. I ate with people from my church who had just returned to McGrath last week; Steve is with the weather service. Knowing what school lunches are ususally like, I was surprised and delighted with the delicious dinner.

The arrangements are made for the library aide training for the first week of December, but I got word that the library that needs the most help probably will not be sending anyone. I'm now hoping that the training session is even held. It seems unfair to the 4 who want to come to cancel, but that decision will depend on the accounting office.

I'm also thankful that the x-rays this week indicted that my foot is healing well.