Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Arctic Care Arrives at Russian Mission


On a warm afternoon of March 10th as I was getting Nicholas ready for our walk to the clinic I heard something very unusual, the sound of choppers. Puzzled I looked outside my living room window to see two military helicopters circling the village. Not knowing what was going on I called Jim. "It is the Arctic Care," he replied. As we talked I noticed something very alarming. One of the helicopters was descending right between the clinic and post office! "Oh My God! What are they doing!" Images of broken power lines tangling the people inside filled my mind such that I could not talk for a few seconds. I could not understand why they would land there when we have a big airfield with plenty of room on the apron. I watched as the second helicopter tried to find a landing spot within the village, hovering over various places before returning back to the area of the first helicopter. The one that landed eventually took off and they parked on the apron of the airport. What an adventurous and unexpected entrance! This is one day I will not soon forget. Later when talking to my daughters and niece about our exciting afternoon I heard that there were some other more dramatic conclusions to seeing the copters hover over the village. Apparently one of the young girls on the road next to my grandpa's house where they were exclaimed, "They are going to kill us! Its the end of the world!" These do make very good conversations. There is now personnel here to help see to the health of our people until the 18th, a dentist, a physical therapist, an optometrist, an audiologist, and two main doctors. We are blessed.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Daylight Savings Time, and updates of the family

I don't know if it's because of the increase in the amount of times I actually look at the time lately or just the usual trouble adjusting to the new time whenever I deal with daylight savings time but I am TIRED today yet I cannot sleep...maybe I am just too tired. The spring cleaning bug has bitten earlier than usual and I have spent most of today going through boxes of clothes I had hidden away, sorting out the ones to give away, refolding ones that Nicholas grabbed and threw on the floor, over and over again. He has become a human version of Curious George. So far he has ransacked my kitchen, dug in the trash, emptied a number of drawers in the bedroom to the point where I actually told him, "Nicholas - you have a whole year before you become a terrible two! There is no skipping!" This weather does not help much with all the snow and wind...but at least we got a break yesterday and most of today.

Yesterda my daughter came back from St. Marys where the regional tournament was held. Her team came in third, the boys second and she won first place in the free throw contest. Her sister asked what she got for it, she replied "just a piece of paper" referring to the certificate. Silly kid. I am very proud of her. The team actually traveled in the freezing rain, then literally pouring rain in order to make it to the tournament because the planes could not pick them up. Talk about dedication! They survived without getting sick so that is a great thing. Part of me admired their dedication, the mother in me thought they were nuts to even think of traveling. Like I was at that age, Felicia loves to travel. Here is to ongoing athletic efforts of our youth!