Worries keeping me up, along with reflections...

My sister-in-law called me this evening saying my grandfather was not feeling well and wanted us to come down. After a bit Nicholas and I went down despite him being tired. My Ap'a is 90 and 10 months, and according to the age he gives others he feels a lot older than that. (He told my mom he was 101 years old). His health has been on a roller coaster lately. My mind tells me that he won't be with us forever and we are so lucky to have him, and to have him healthy for as long as we have had him but my heart still cringes at the thought of losing him. We, grandkids and great-grandkids have been closer to him than his kids growing up. The adults try to tell each other comforting things like reflecting how blessed we are, the great-grandkids don't want to even mention that he has been old for a good twenty years... I can relate because the kid in me doesn't want to accept that either. When I really look at him lately I can't help noticing how greatly he has aged even within this past year. Tonight we also heard that his brother-in-law/first cousin was medivac'd into Bethel because his heart slowed down. He is our "Big Ap'a" a name we grew up associating with Alexander Isaac since childhood such that even my kids call him Big Apa. I know I am so fortunate to have known my grandparents for as long as I have and they have been able to watch my kids grow up...kinda grow up. Even seen my grandchild, I am just sad and worried that when it comes time to say "we will be good, don't worry about us." that I will mean it. I know we will be okay....they have taught us well by their examples. They love God above all else and love us with their whole hearts, always guiding us through and showing us how to live "like a true human being," caring for others with patience, love, understanding and kindness.

2009 another year of the flood...and I am missing the adventures!

My daughter Maxine is having the time of her life this spring enjoying the unique activities that the spring flood has brought. She has canoed the airstrip, tried catching ducks with a 22, took a ride to the watertower hill to take pictures of the lower village, coming home will all kinds of awesome stories while I sit exhausted from working. lol it is not as bad as that but I still could not help wishing I was able to do some of those things. My aunt, the store manager is sick and I am subbing for her. Don't get me wrong I love the fact that I am earning some money but I don't know of anyone who would trade working in a building with no windows to canoeing what a week ago was dry land or taking a ride to a hillside and enjoying the view. Ahh....the joys of adult responsibilities. I got dibs on summer and fall to be outside!!!!

My classmate was one of the four found in Anchorage

Our community was saddened in hearing that Simeon Boots, known to us as Gunnazaq, was found in Anchorage. His dad lives at his campsite at Takliq year round, and brother down lower-48. It is unknown as to how he died. Most of my memories of him are during school hours. I take comfort in that our other classmate Nick Pitka Jr, or Saloony as we called him would meet him on the other side along with his mother, grandfather and other family members. I just hope the water level does not cover our airstrip as we are in danger of having it under the flood area. As it is, the river is surrounding it - the passengers were met by a CAT to take them to the dry areas of the village.

I just had to share this with you guys

When Nicholas and I were heading to Anchorage the roads were not repaired from the runoff of the spring thawing of the snow so we had to find our own way down to the airstrip instead of the agent picking us up with his truck. I asked my sister-in-law Beck and as we were riding down she asked if I had a cell phone. I don't, so she offered hers and I accepted. Trouble was I was unfamiliar with the type she had and could not find her number. I called my girls and informed them that I had their auntie Beck's phone, but they had to call her for the number and did not expect a phone call from anyone. The next afternoon I received a call but pressed the wrong button in my haste to answer the phone and missed the call. I was tired and did not recognize the number on the received calls so I called the number to notify them that if they were calling for Becky she was at home. I did not recognize the person on the other line, and was not expecting anyone to call me yet so my explanation was kinda rushed into their ear rather abruptly practically as soon as they said, "hello." There was silence for a couple seconds then that someone asked, "are you a single lady?" I was shocked and alarmed, because I did not know who this man was and blurted, "NO!" and hung up the phone. The phone rang again, I did not answer.

I was still not familiar with the phone's dynamics but I was able to answer other calls and replied to two text messages after Nicholas and I returned to the Quyana quarters. In total I got five different people calling to reassure me that the mystery man was my younger brother Steven, along with two different people texting me the same information. When I treated him like a stranger when he answered cell (sort of newly acquired-and yes, I did recognize it when I finally got settled safely in my room,) he decided to see if I would recognize his voice, which obviously I did not. I got so much mixed emotions from relief to only God knows what else. There was no one else besides Nicholas there but I felt so embarrassed! I had a good laugh over it later, after I quit being jumil. I still waved my fists at him playfully when I seen him and said, "You were lucky to have been way over here when I found out." This story definitely will be told for years to come. By golly when I finally get me another cell phone his number will be the first one I identify on my contact list! :D

Nicholas' had tubes put in his ears

On the 6th of May Nicholas and I began our journey into Anchorage to put tubes in his ears. At first I was worried about his age and, to be honest a whole lot of other "what if"s. The third attempt at traveling was the charm, so to speak. The first try was stopped by Mt. Redoubt. The second by a high fever and ear infection. The weather was nice and warm down there, warmer than Russian Mission.

Nicholas was a big hit with the people there. Everyone was amazed that he was only 15 months because he looks to be at least a year older. We seen people I have not seen in a long long time which was nice. The last night there we watched a native dance group in the main lobby. I tried taking him for a walk around the hospital to "wear him out" for his nap and ended up the one worn out.

By the third night I was feeling a bit lonesome for my family and so was Nicholas by the uninterested manner in which he approached our activities. It was good to come home but the travel took its toll on my energy level. At home earlier today my cousin Irene and niece Tanya and six other seniors had their graduation ceremony. Tonight the prom. lol I ended up babysitting but it is one thing I hope never to tire from, kids are kids for such a short time.