May 2018
Recently we were invited to a local university graduation party of a student which I’d taught in kindergarten. We went, because of the principle of another step in life and to see those who cared enough to show.
At the house hosting the event we found people politely taking off their shoes either just inside the door or on the porch. We ate some wonderfully crafted, potluck food then meandered to the front porch where some were talking in small groups.
What I love about this community, this group; is that people can be from all over and are still happy to listen and connect with each other’s stories. Aside from the dinner show of the rental car getting stuck in the driveway and six or seven, twenty-somethings working together to get the car out, we were happy to observe, sip a beverage and find out what is going on in the community.
These are interesting people, XtraTuf people; wonderful people.
To the casual observer, you wouldn’t believe there to be a bird expert in the midst; a newly awarded Phd in micro chemistry or biology something, or both? A retired short story author and Alaska State Writer Laureate, an award winning artist and book maker, the lead of a veterinarian school, visiting professors of education from Norway and a biology graduate. And those are just the degrees that I know.
On paper, this could be a stuffy crowd, but not in Fairbanks. In Fairbanks, everyone wears XtraTufs. They come in all sizes. I watched people slip them off to go inside the cabin for food. Some people had marked on them distinguishing them from the identical pair next to them. Others had well worn patches of duct tape. When I mentioned to one guest that his shoes may be mixed with others, he proudly showed me the unique round patch in the back. Another man pointed out his had the trim separating around the top. Both men noted the new women’s style with the unique fancy colored liners. I think these boots appeal to so many people because they work, last and say “we’re Alaskans”.
As Brian and I drove home, we were happy.We had connected with good people, real people. People who matter to their families, to their support groups, their community and to the world. We were fortunate enough to listen, interact and hear of their life’s work, as unique snippets of correspondents, and yet connect with; all of us for dinner on a porch in Alaska; to tell stories.
