I left a beautiful spring to head to Alaska to experience breakup.
Anyone who's been in Alaska in the spring time knows and
loathes"breakup." It's the time of year when weather vacillates between
warm and freezing temperatures. Snow melts, then freezes, then melts
again, turning the yard into a giant mud puddle. It's usually this time
of year when Alaskans bet on exactly when the Nenana River ice will
break. The contest started in 1906 and is still a big deal around these
parts.
However, I'm not here to enjoy the crisp, unpredictable weather. My father passed away the week before last, so I came to help out and say goodbye. When I think about the life of my father, I remember him as a lucky man. He really did live a full life. He spent a lot of time exploring the Alaskan wilderness, leading a team of pack-horses into the back country, either hunting or taking in a group of Sierra Club members to experience Alaska at its best. He spent time teaching art at remote native Alaskan villages, as well as in Old-Believer Russian villages. He would tell us the stories of how he'd have to get permission to enter the Russian villages from the elders who were trying to preserve their culture in an evolving world. After growing up hearing his stories and seeing the fruits of his life through his painting and carving, I would be hard-pressed to find another individual who'd lived a more exciting life than my father. It's my hope that I can enjoy my life as much as he did in his.
Take care, All
P.S. Our new book on how to build a solar home is on Amazon. If you haven't had the chance to check it out, you may want to. We also included a step-by-step guide on how to build a compost toilet and rainwater collection system.
http://www.amazon.com/UNPLUG-From-Grid-Collection-ebook/dp/B00CBWMANK/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1367522034&sr=1-3&keywords=hillary+bergeron
However, I'm not here to enjoy the crisp, unpredictable weather. My father passed away the week before last, so I came to help out and say goodbye. When I think about the life of my father, I remember him as a lucky man. He really did live a full life. He spent a lot of time exploring the Alaskan wilderness, leading a team of pack-horses into the back country, either hunting or taking in a group of Sierra Club members to experience Alaska at its best. He spent time teaching art at remote native Alaskan villages, as well as in Old-Believer Russian villages. He would tell us the stories of how he'd have to get permission to enter the Russian villages from the elders who were trying to preserve their culture in an evolving world. After growing up hearing his stories and seeing the fruits of his life through his painting and carving, I would be hard-pressed to find another individual who'd lived a more exciting life than my father. It's my hope that I can enjoy my life as much as he did in his.
Take care, All
P.S. Our new book on how to build a solar home is on Amazon. If you haven't had the chance to check it out, you may want to. We also included a step-by-step guide on how to build a compost toilet and rainwater collection system.
http://www.amazon.com/UNPLUG-From-Grid-Collection-ebook/dp/B00CBWMANK/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1367522034&sr=1-3&keywords=hillary+bergeron
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