Glennallen
Why I love Girdwood, Alaska
We are in Girdwood this week, enjoying fabulous Spring skiing. You must understand that Alaskans put up with some pretty extreme conditions all winter just to ski…darkness, subzero temperatures, avalanche danger…so when we finally get the long, sunny, warm days of spring we enjoy every minute of it!
I mention Girdwood often in my posts because we spend almost half our time in this beautiful little ski town. My family loves being here. It’s such a small, quiet community filled with people who know us and accept us with all our limitations. We can do anything we want without being stared at or made to feel different. Girdwood is one of the most accepting places I’ve ever spent my time.
There is probably another reason why this little town has taken hold of my heart. I grew up in rural Alaska, in a small community in the Interior of state called Glennallen. Glennallen is very small, very remote…there were only 20 kids in my graduating class. Everyone knew everyone, we looked out for each other, and even after all these years those of us from Glennallen still share a special bond. When I returned to Alaska as an adult we made our home for several years in Wrangell, a small fishing community located on an island in Southeast Alaska. Wrangell was just like Glennallen…another remote community that took care of it’s own.
My home now is in Wasilla which has grown dramatically in the last ten years to become fairly urban city, at least by Alaskan standards. I enjoy the convience that comes with living in a larger town. After spending the first 30 years of my life without being able to do the simplest things like go to McDonalds or watch a movie in a theater, you can only imagine how much I enjoy living in what I considered a “normal” community. But, as my children get older and my life more hectic I find myself more and more drawn to the quiet intimacy of Girdwood.
Perhaps someday Rob, Quincy and I can figure out a way to make Girdwood our home. Of course, that is no easy task. Quincy’s needs are great and will only be more complex as she becomes an adult. Rob and I do not have the privilige of just picking up and moving to any place we like…we must make sure it will provide the supports that Quincy will need. And, unfortunately for us, the smaller the community the fewer the services for the disabled.
If Girdwood turns out to be a place that I am only a part-time resident, it will be okay. I already consider myself blessed to be a part of such a wonderful place full of wonderful people. If you ever get to Alaska, take the short drive south of Anchorage and check it out for yourself. At first blush you may say, “This is it??” but spend some time walking around and talking to the locals and maybe you will begin to understand how I feel. And, if it’s winter, then rent some skis and burn some runs at Alyeska! It doesn’t get any better than that!!
Categories
National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC)
