Choo Choo

One of my fondest memories of the Alaska Railroad happened on an early winter morning. My dad and I were just leaving Girdwood and were on our way to Anchorage and outside, a blizzard raged.

Snow was flying every which way and I remember distinctly the feeling of being scared, not in control in the midst of Mother Nature's storm.  

Not a car was in sight and if it wasn't for the swirling snow illuminated by our headlights, blackness would surely engulf us.  

All of a sudden, a train whistle sounded in the distance. To our left, a beacon of light shone brightly alongside us.  

There we were, alone on the treacherous road, and all of a sudden, this massive comforting train joined us along the Arm and we rode into Anchorage together. 

To this day, I credit that train for keeping us on track during that storm.  

Get it?  

See, I'm not the only one in my family with a love of trains.  

My brother, aside from being a classic young boy who played with model trains as a kid (and as an adult) used to be a firemen aboard the 1880 steam locomotive in Hill City, SD.  

My mom is loco about trains. If you couldn't tell from the Whistle Hill development (where two train cars now reside and are being converted into businesses), you would be able to identify her adoration of choo choos as soon as you mention something of the train sort.  

And then my dad and sister are along for the ride.  

So it shouldn't come as a surprise that in a closet of wonder (my closet), I would have an appropriate autumn skirt with a choo choo scene on it.  

A skirt that I simply had to wear in front of our freshly re-painted Alaskan Railroad train car, #602! 

Seeing it all come together is making us giddy, for visually, things are finally moving along. It's also reminding us of our time stamp, for in order to make it work by December, we have to stay on track.

Just like the train rumbling through the winter storm keeping us company, we're going forward, full steam ahead.  

I've Fall-en For You.

It's that time of year again and already, I am fall-ing hard.

The trees are slowly undressing themselves from their summer bloom, the mornings are becoming crisper, and the scent of heavenly decay is present every time I step outdoors into the beautiful brilliance.

I simply adore autumn. 

Unfortunately, the season here in Alaska is short, and fall colors are only here for about a week. And this year, we have been bombarded with a torrent of continued rainfall, making it rather difficult to enjoy the scenery.

Until today.

I woke to an incredibly clear crispy cold morning (say that ten times) and throughout the day, the sun shone and there was warmth once again.

I've always had a crush on fall.  

Like the end of tourist season, things get quiet. While the start of the spring season accelerates into summer activity, fall is the wind down into winter hibernation. There's this feeling of tranquility, the slower pace and I am reminded again that it isn't the end of summer, but the start of winter. 

Between the pumpkin spice lattes, warmer wardrobe, colored landscapes, and breath of fresh air, it's easy for me to say that I've fall-en for you, my sweet autumn. 

And although your presence here is short, know that you made a memorable impact on one very adoring tall girl...