The Meier Compound

The back of our house at 4142 S 43 St

The backyard of 4202 S 43 St from the pond

The pond at 4202 S 43 St

I can only imagine how Bill feels after moving away from his family home, a place that he has known since his birth in 1954.  It isn't usual that someone lives practically their entire life in the same place.  Except for a few brief excursions "into the unknown",
Bill has lived his whole life in the same four acres of this earth.  The Knoll family farm (Millie's family) was at the top of the hill, north of our house, and Bill remembers quite clearly running through the field from his home to his grandmothers. In fact, there are too many stories to tell of the "Meier Compound", some of which are stuff of legend.  They have made great campfire stories in Eagle River, recited many times over BOF's and some friends of the family even remember participating in some of the hijinks (you know who you are!) committed at these properties.   So to leave the only real home that he has had for these 50+ years is something that I can't comprehend.  Living in the "city" didn't seem so bad for our kids either,  because they had almost four acres of playground that they called their backyard.  Sharing a yard with the grandparents was perfect - there was the pond which was the place for many summer theatrical endeavors, many types of swings and swinging paraphernalia, it was where the "goal post" was and even the patio was a place where the kids learned to ride their bikes.  

Home plate

The trail to the ravine

Our yard was the site of many games of "pitchers hand" and whiffle ball, and the ravine was the best place to play "sock wars".  Grandpa Ed and Bill spent one summer off from school (they both taught at WCTI at the same time) building a huge deck which turned into the "family" picnic area whenever there was an event to celebrate.  The pool was added 20+ years ago and was a real treat throughout the summers.  As the 1st generation of Meier children left the "compound", Bill maintained the property - first with Grandpa Ed's help (he had to stop when he got one-too-many sticks in the eye on the lawn tractor), then with our children.  Grandma was always generous with the "lawn mowing money"!  I've attached some photos of the properties, taken just this weekend when everything was "greening up" good!  Some parts are overgrown now, and Bill has taken down much dead wood over the course of the last few seasons.  I don't dwell on leaving this place - it will be hard.  I see our children running, climbing, crying and laughing at every turn. Each point in the yard has a memory for me and my children have memories, too.  I can only imagine the memories for Bill, who has been here almost twice as long as I.  As beautiful as Alaska is, the Meier Compound will always be remembered as it once was and is now - our home.  Nothing will take that away from our memories.