A Day That Will Live In 'Famy (you know what I mean)

Just landing in Fairbanks took my breath away. Maybe that was because we hadn't slept in 24 hours or maybe it was because the place you grow up gets under your skin in a way you never realize.

Here's a REAL quick sketch of the day - and for once - I'm not exaggerating. (And I think most of this is documented in real time below.) Mostly I'm documenting this for my memory's sake. I don't know if I'd believe it.

All times are "ish".

5:30a board plane in Anchorage
6:00a head north
6:30a spot Mt McKinley
7:ooa land in Fairbanks
7:30a check into hotel
8:30a walk to breakfast (the long way - sorry)
10:00a Joshua, Noah, Isaac head back to hotel / Gid, Lyse, and I walk downtown to get rental car. (I kiss the ground I was born on.) Walked down city streets that flood (literally and figuratively) with memories. Gid spotted a beaver dam, for real, right in the middle of the city. That's why they get props for being eager! In the first 24hrs we've seen moose, raven, sled dogs, moose poop (I just said poop), and plenty of other evidence that this isn't Kansas anymore.
11:00a clean up and go see "Aunt" Ethyl - the greatest blessing of the whole trip. WOW
12:00n drive to childhood elementary school (Nordale) and the walk to my old house in Hamilton Acres (all this walking / hiking / gold panning explain the reason for the picture of my knee below)
1:00p greeted back at Nordale by a truly great new / old friend Craig B
1:30p buy gold pan and shovel and head north to Fox to find our share of Alaska's gold
2:00p drink deep from Fox's fresh spring water - alas no gold, YET
2:30p head half-way up Elliot Hwy toward Livengood ('cuz we are!). Slow goin' and we don't make it all the way, but dang, the land is gorgeous - all the boys were impressed. We got out and got up on the Alaska pipeline (really, pictures to come).
5:00p back at hotel, clean up, go to Alaskan Salmon Bake (as discussed below)
8:00p souvenir shop in Pioneer Park (aka: A67 / Alaskaland)
9:00p go to WalMart to get what we lost or forgot - short trip, then poolside to wrap up an incredible FIRST day in Alaska.
10:00p well, that's now. It's bright as day outside but our little peepers have been open so long, I think we could sleep now or noonday. Lyse is already conked out. The boys are next door exaggerating to each other what they could do if they really want to.

I think the six of us laughed more with each other and at each other than we have altogether in years. I cried like a baby at seeing Ethyl. That's just exactly the kind of day it has been. And trust me, both sides of that ecstatic emotional coin make it all worthwhile. Thanks for checking in. Oh, believe me - MORE TOMORROW!!