Christmas is coming…..the goose is getting fat.

1Josh • 11th Dec 2004 • blog entries, nome.

Today, before I drove our 4wheeler to the store (about a minute away), and before I strapped our groceries down to the front of the ATV with two bungee cords for the drive home, I left the house thinking “Man, I don’t need to put to many layers on, its pretty warm….its only 21 out!” And as I drove down the street, I was basking in the warmth. I am constantly amazed at how much our life has changed in the past few months, and how seamlessly we have adjusted. Our life now is so completely different than it was last Christmas season, but other than missing family and friends, I’m not sure I prefer one over the other. Now, there is something to be said for going to downtown and shopping at a big mall with festive people all around you. But there is a simplicity to life here in Alaska that is soothing, and I think I like it.

Christmas is upon us here, and it is very odd not being home for this time of the year. Lydia and I are used to the visits downtown, the runs to southcenter, the church Christmas activities, and the familiarity of our family. Next weekend is our staff Christmas parties, for both of our jobs. Last week we decorated our house with as many Christmas decorations as we could get our hands on. Neil went out to Council, a 2 hour snow machine ride south of here and got a bunch of trees. We put ours up, and in replace of a tree stand we used a Ragu jar (its not a big tree). There is a Christmas eve service at church, and we have been invited over for egg nog at a couple’s house with some other people afterward. Christmas day Dennis and Candice are hosting a staff Christmas dinner, although Neil and possibly Lon will be out of town. Christmas has brought an onslaught of holiday bazaars to Nome, but we haven’t found to many good buys.

This week I was able to nail down our trip to Washington DC, everything is a go! Lydia decided to join me, and it looks like we will able to get tickets to the Inauguration. We will also get to spend a number of days at home, over two on the way there, and then 12 hours on the way home. We are very excited, as we did not expect to make it home until we moved back. Even though it is over a month away, it is in the forefront of our minds constantly.