Three Score Birthday

It's been a long time since I blogged so I have lots to catch up on. Last Saturday, there was a big surprise party at the Alaska Dog Musher's Hall for Paul. He not only is retiring (less than 11 full work days!) but turned 60 and was looking forward to Christmas with our children. It was great fun.

Music was provided by Steve Brown and the Bailers. There was dancing and fun had by all. Steve, Robin, Matt, Todd, Dan and Cliff played great original and familiar tunes and were very crowd friendly.

His friends from the Arctic Region Supercomputing Center were there in force, bringing great appetizers ranging from homemade cheesecake to strombolis. Also there were our friends and their families from many other of our circles of life. The kids who were there were great fun. Their parents appreciated the freedom of movement of kids at a welcoming party.

Rainy made the banana/yellow cake- a map of the Appalachian Trail, complete with a lake, rock candies, a winding trail and 60 trees made from pretzels and frosting. She and her sister, Marlene stepped up to the void and dished up food and kept the kitchen moving. Ron and Erin picked up the pony kegs of beer (pale ale and lager) from Silver Gulch.



As part of most families, there are weddings, funerals, Bar Mitzvahs, wedding and baby showers, birthday parties, etc and children go to all of them. Playing with others in an extended family and celebrating until after bedtime is a fond remembrance of my own childhood. I remember going to my Aunt Mary's brother's wedding, Guido and Maria. It was my first (and only) Italian wedding and I'll always remember the heavy drinking, fast dancing, loud laughing, tight hugging and long hours of that wedding. In Alaska where many families are miles away, friends become the extended family. In my opinion, children need to feel that they are part of a bigger community and that there are others that share their "human-ness" with all that entails.

Ben has had a great time introducing En Xi to all the "firsts" of Alaska. Her experiences this week include riding/driving a dogsled and a snowmachine, firing a 22 and a pistol, participating in Christmas and Hanukkah celebrations, sightseeing reindeer and muskox and the pipeline, soaking in Chena Hot Springs, overnighting in a remote cabin and eating strange and exotic American food.