dearests! It's been such a long time, I know. Pardon me, as usual, I've been very busy busy. Such is the kind of person I am. So much has happened in the last month. I decided to keep the puppy dog Gus, for one thing. It was a difficult decision, but I don't think I'll ever be more ready. A new friend that I met up here in Fairbanks has a dog herself and is also a world traveller. Speaking with her about how to have a dog and globe trot, I became convinced that all I have to do is occassionally drop the dog off at my mom's house, or a close friend's place. I haven't yet enlisted any friends yet, and I haven't told my mom about this plan, but I think it'll work out great. Gus travels well in the car, anyway. He spent most of his young life up til this point riding in the trailer every day to go to Alaska land to be stashed in the puppy petting pen to be harrassed by young children every day. At first I thought this whole puppy petting pen thing was exploitative, but it seems that it has had a positive effect on Gus. Not only is he just fine with travelling in a car (he mostly sleeps in our car rides just as I did as a young pup) but he is really good with people of all sizes and shapes, and really doesn't mind being handled. We go on regular adventures together, mostly down to the great city of fairbanks to run errands and to the bar to meet friends and to trails and roads near friends' places. He seems to have taken me as his second momma dog and he follows me around pretty well off the leash. He only occassionally has bolted because he heard an oncoming train and to run back and see his brothers who'd been left behind in the puppy petting pen. He mostly comes when he's called, too. He's doing sit and down, but sometimes get distracted and I admit, I'm not the best at enforcing a regular training routine. I prefer to take him with me places and expose him to interesting new experiences, like swimming through mucky ponds and getting his feet wet in rivers and being around many people and other dogs. We're still working on house training, too. Its funny how much like children they are. You use the ignore them tactic when they whine, and my friend even taught me that you can use shame to get them to do something you want . It seems to work even though I despise these same tactics in human interaction. Perhaps its better than smacking the dog, which is actually something that has crossed my mind. He's a very smart and loving little boy. I am going to have to work on my own impatience, though.
So they say this whole dog thing will change your life, right? Well, folks since I think it not wise to move back to san francisco with a little dog, I've decided to stay here in Fairbanks for the winter. Here I go declaring some big decision that I still have misgivings about, but I've given this one a lot of thought, and I think I'm up for the challenge. Bring on the slew of 40 below dark days of winter! At least its not too windy up here. Well, its not only because of the dog, although I think this is a great place for him to spend these formative first months, but because I've actually found a wonderful community of smart, innovative, driven, politically-minded young folks who I call my friends now! I didn't expect this up here at all. Believe me, Fairbanks as a city kind of sucks and there are a lot of folks that I can't really stand in terms of their views or lack of views on the world, but hey, what does it matter when you have warm, caring community to go hang out at the local bar with, or go on a hike with, or go fishing, or cut wood or collect berries, or hunt moose with? I think that I've come here to learn about living a simpler life- to learn what happens when there isn't any easily accesible power supply, or running water or Fred Meyers perhaps. Man, I tell you, now that i don't have a shower at this new place we've moved into, taking a shower has become an incredibly religious experience. I go into the laundry mat, or the local Uni dorms looking like a dirty wet grumpy little dog and probably grumbling because of how stinky I am, sticky I am, and itchy I am, and I come out feeling like I've been reborn. The clouds part and when that cool air hits my skin and runs through my wet hair, I am Alive again!!
So, yeah, have I gone crazy or is there a logical explanation for wanting to subject myself to some of the coldest conditions the planet has to offer? Well, I've learned that I need a community of like-minded, creative, innovative, compasssionate, affectionate folks and I look around me and I see folks that fit that criteria. I look around and I see folks that will be great teachers. A friend of mine is going to start a food not bombs up here (free food served up from local stores and restaurants who donate, or dumpster-dived) to get the food to the people and create a space for radical organizing and idea making and I hear talk of a natural healing collective where people get together to do skill shares on techniques and methods. I'm thinking of taking some classes in massage, something I've wanted to do for a long time.
So it seems, I've found my place, unexpectedly in the world. I thought I would be drawn back by the city, but I feel so at home here. I will miss all of you San Francisco folk and portland people and my peeps in Colorado. I carry all of you with me in my heart. Come visit! Definitely keep in touch. Love to my people! I feel that I'm fulfilling a dream and it is giving me great strength. I wish the same blessing for all of you.