Berries are late this year...such a cold summer

One of my annual stress relievers is spending the day outside picking berries. There is something about being surrounded with nature that drains away my tension. A lady here said that her family went out and looked around but didn't see any ripe fruit at all...sad. It has been so cold... hopefully soon...

My Grandfather Peter

The people pictured here with my grandfather are only a small fraction of our family...

My grandfather is a very quiet man whose eyesight nowadays reminds me of Mr. Magoo. Once he realizes who he is seeing his memory oftentimes astounds me. He has been sharing information with us for as long as I can remember about the places and people of our region. When his health started declining he told me how his mom died when he was around two due to the flu epidemic. He would look down and put his hand in a sweeping motion in front of him and say, "I can still see it when they put her in the mud. My auntie Qiatguq- the first Qiatguq behind me, and behind her my other three aunties." He said that his aunt that took him in died shortly after his mom, then he was adopted by the couple he calls his parents - Peter and Nastasia Nick. I once asked him what was his mom's name, he did not recall only knowing her as mom. His biological father was not in the picture, being a Caucasian miner by the name of George Fredricks who later moved to Sleetmute. By the time he was a teenager both his adoptive parents died and he lived with his uncle and cousins. One of my dreams is to have some kind of documentary of his stories. I have some written notes and had one video but they are only a small peek into the treasure of stories he can tell us.

Happy 90th Birthday Ap'a Peter "Papasneak" Nick

My grandfather celebrated his 90th birthday on July 4, 2008. We were in Bethel for a check up at the hospital and missed our plane ride home on the 3rd but have a lot of family here. I spent the day with my son, my grandpa and my brother Herman cooking while the others checked out the parade and activities in Pinkys Park. Its been a long but greatly appreciated day. I was going to post a picture of us but I can't get it uploaded on this old computer. There were two things my Ap'a prayed for as a child who lost his mother to the big flu along with others (which he still remembers): he prayed for a long life and to have a big family - not to be alone all his life. His prayers have been answered!! He has 3 children, 15 grandchildren, over 20 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter!!!! We have been blessed to have him with us all these years - he is a great role model and we cannot express our gratitude to grow up so closely with him at our side.