Journeys never end, they live on in memories through stories scribed, pictures posted, and the experiences you haven’t remembered yet, but will creep back in through déjà vu or reflections, and fill you with a rainbow of emotions.

Though I am not there, the Homestead and Homer is still happening! A little bit colder, a little bit wetter than when I left it……., but I am willing to bet it’s still brimming with vigor and vim. I won’t say I miss it, for that is too obvious to suggest, so memories bring me back.

Booshwa or is it bourgeois: Who the…. What the….??? I don’t know how many times I heard that phrase. I couldn’t help but snicker inside when it was spouted from someone’s mouth. By definition it relates to characteristics of the social middle class (whatever that means) or marked by a concern for material interests….., or rubbish. Now the latter sounds more relatable when speaking with other humans, yet rubbish doesn’t quite fit the Homestead persona. Treasure lies in the eye of the beholder. For example, the road grader looks beautifully at home here………. But to others…… Ahhhhh booshwa.

Berries with Straws: Lucky Charms comes to mind when I remember eating these magically delicious little strawberries. Yes, Texas we know everything is bigger there…. But what they lack in size, they make up for with fresh Alaskan flavor. Nothing beats picking fresh from the earth, and nibble on greatness, as a small spittle of juice runs down my chin. I’ll save that for later.

Goats and herds: For as clever and cute as goats can be, they don’t always do what you hope they would.

Life on the Homestead often involves helping your neighbor out. When mom and dad are away, the goats will play. Yet when Uncle Andy sets off to do a favor, goats disappear like ghosts in the darkness. I had one simple task, put the goats in their pen for the night. Bait them with food and song and dance. A simple open and shut case. However, after an hour plus spent wandering the property as I checked the cabin, checked the cabin being built, checked the outhouse, the tipi (yes there is also a tipi), the trails, the cliff edge, the road, the meadow, grab a snack, check those again, grab a snack, check those again…..argh………. I’ve decided they either became ghosts, or do what animals do. Evade and survive. They will be ok for the night on their own. Slightly frustrated as I was, I took a moment to reflect……….., though my original mission was a failure…….. I created a mini adventure, and when I stopped to look around, to soak in the world around me, I smiled and said thank you for the sights and experiences this life brings.

Hinges: Is that a glove, or a door hinge? Why both of course! A staple of Homestead ingenuity, and quite functional I might add. If you doubt it, try it.

Born to run: When you try and give a dog a ride and the look tells all……. The PG version…… forgetaboutit (in a heavy Italian accent, as she thinks to herself, “if only I had a middle finger.”). Fair enough, let the Wookie win, let’s go run.

Fashion Trends: My high school soccer coach once proclaimed we are moldbreakers, trailblazers……. Do you think he had this I mind?

Fashion favors the bold, but I tend to believe in function over fashion. As you scratch your head wondering how such an atrocity in the eyes of Ralph Lauren is functional, let me enlighten you. Weather in Homer changes by the hour, sometimes by the minute. A bay filled with (you guessed it) water, glacier filled mountains, the Pacific Ocean, something called wind, and a giant glowing orange orb in the sky all converge to create variability. Variability inherently creates uncertainty. So, while it looks all bright and blue, it was wet that morning from dew and a morning mist, thus requiring the boots. Add to that a slight chill from a bay breeze causing the follicly-challenged human to need a head covering. Generally speaking, shorts are functional to me, myself and I. I firmly believe that my efficiency increases approximately 22% when I get to wear shorts, and when an old pair of shorts become a little too big, yet I want to maintain my efficiency, I dig out the trusty suspenders and all is right in the world!

Furry Company: We all share this land, and I was grateful to have company in all shapes and sizes. I appreciated every moment I had to experience their presence.

Let us remind ourselves once again, a journey is never over, for the memories have just begun!

Let the world whisper, as we wander.

#whisper #Alaska #wander #Homer #Homestead