There's no place like home ...

We had a whirlwind weekend recently - spending four days with the entire family and a multitude of friends in Greenfield, Wisconsin.  Planning the busy weekend took some time, since the kids were coming in from all over (except for Brian, who was keeping the homestead fires burning - literally!), and there were a number of things happening during the long weekend.  First and foremost, I need to thank my kids for doing so much to keeps things moving - you guys are the best!  From "cinderella" in the kitchen, to the pre-party grocery shopping to the liquor store run late in the afternoon and everything in between, this bittersweet visit home would not have been possible without your help.  And it WAS bittersweet - driving up the driveway seemed so familiar but strange - it looked the same and felt the same but I felt the undercurrent of "lasts" that were to come.  Of course, walking into a house that had changed since we left (three men living there had meant some "redecorating"), most noticeably the pool being gone.  Was our backyard really that big?  And I had forgotten how green things were in the late Spring in Wisconsin.  Even though the kids are now adults, in the house I envisioned them as youngsters, running up the hallway, having "movie night" on the big blanket on the floor, but especially playing outside.  Now, our grandkids were playing there, whiffle ball, bottles of bubbles and running through the sprinkler reminded me of 30+ years at the house.   Driving to familiar stores down streets I could probably do blind-folded felt good but I found myself looking at things with "last time" running through my head.  The cemetery sign with the potted geraniums, the four-way stop on the way to the Pick n Save, and the familiar turn on "I" going to our "bed and breakfast" at our friends house were so much more meaningful when I thought I might not be there again.  We will visit, but it won't be the same - of course, that was our choice.  We felt so lucky that we got to see so many of our old friends, and spending time with family is always the best.  Next time, maybe we'll get together in Louisville, or Roanoke, or New York City - or even Juneau.  We look forward to it!

Juneau Appreciation Day

Today was Juneau Appreciation Day - a day when the residents of Juneau are thanked for their support of the travel/tourism trade.  It was also the first Saturday in May and, traditionally, the "Blessing of the Fleet".  We woke to a rainy day, cloudy and cool.  However, we decided to drive downtown and and I was most looking forward to a discounted "tram" ride and possibly a free hot dog at DIPAC (the local salmon hatchery).  What I wasn't expecting was the emotions I felt during the ceremony.  In downtown Juneau, there is a small area on the waterfront that is home to the Alaska Commercial Fisherman's Memorial.  The Memorial was dedicated in 1991 and was built with dollars raised by the family and friends of those whose lives were lost in commercial fishing accidents in Alaska.  This year, five names were added to the granite memorial. Gov. Sean Parnell spoke, theJuneau Pipe Band played (I love a good bagpipe!), a young girl sang the Alaska state song, and a girl scout troop led the national anthem.  At an appointed time the commercial fishing vessel, the Kaia, dropped a flower wreath in the water. A number of commercial fishing vessels were in the water, and as the boats slowly passed by in front of the memorial, one by one, a local pastor mentioned each boat by name and intoned a blessing on the captain, crew and passengers.  Some in the crowd waved to the captains as the boats passed by, others dropped flowers in the water.  I watched a small family in front of me hug each other with sad faces and I wondered what their story was - did they lose a father or husband?  Or, were they part of the larger commercial fishing "family" that honors those that have passed?  As someone read all of the names that were inscribed on the walls of the memorial, the crowd was quiet - only the rain was noticeable.  I didn't stay after the ceremony - those that needed to be there should have the space to themselves.  I will return on another day to look at the names on the memorial and maybe on a sunny day, the emotions won't be as close to the surface.