Bumped to First Class!

Mike and I are hanging in the airport waiting for our flight out of Anchorage. Our flight was scheduled to leave at 12:45 a.m., but due to the severe weather in the Lower 48, we're delayed here for at least an additional hour. We've had a few chuckles during the past couple of weeks at the irony of life -- we are in Alaska where everyone assumes it's dark all the time (a misconception I had until a year ago) and it's the land of the igloos. The reality is that Mike and I are actually doing pretty well. After today, the days will get longer, and it should only take roughly six weeks or so for us to be caught up with everyone in Utah. Ninilchik also doesn't have much snow. When we left the house today, I think there was MAYBE two inches of snow on the ground. Maybe we're making up for the unusually wet summer. I hope that for the sake of the sanity of my students, however, that we do get some snow soon. They're going bonkers because they want snow for their snowmachines!

So, we're going to Utah to see the family. I'm excited to see everyone. Today Mike commented, though, that he doesn't want to leave Alaska as much as he wants to see everyone. I reminded him that this time he gets to come home to Alaska. We still call Utah home, but this is home too.

I can't believe that one year ago today, I was walking out of the Holiday Oil in Soldotna when I had one of those hit-me-over-the-head moments. I realized then that I could live here. I sent Mike a quick text asking him what he thought about moving to Alaska. Of course he replied yes, but he really didn't take me serious until after I'd found out what I needed to do to get my teaching license here. When I didn't bat an eye at having to take additional classes and continued with the plans, he knew for sure that we were coming. And now, we've been here for six months! Time sure does fly. I only wish we were flying now!