Dear Chloe, Before you were born, I was going through a metamorphosis with my identity. My life was centered on roles of being the maternal provider for our family. I became the wife, the mom, the dinner provider, the cheerleader for your Dad and older brothers. But, that began to change. I still kept … Continue reading A Letter To My Daughter On Her First Rally Demonstration.
I was 15 years old when I gave birth to my first child, a son. He was born in 1989, and there was a phenomenon that was happening to teenage girls in the late 80s. I had known 2-3 girls who were pregnant right along with me. I realized that the numbers were far greater … Continue reading Confession of an Ex-Teenage Mom
Nowhere. Somewhere begins nowhere. It is nowhere that we find ourselves asking where to go next? Where to go from here? Our lives depend on where we are at the exact moment in time and it is where we define ourselves. My nowhere is here. At a pinnacle in my life that I find often … Continue reading Beginning.
We've driven the highway from Fairbanks to Anchorage numerous times throughout the years. The trips were often for soccer games, football games, wrestling tournaments, etc. The drive has become a ritual. But, as the years continue on, and the boys have grown and moved to college, we drive to Anchorage for some down time … Continue reading On the Road… again.
There have been articles written throughout the years how the death of the oral tradition has been linked to the death of a cultural identity. In Alaska, there have been movements to preserve many of the Alaskan native languages. We have museums that archive and preserve recordings of our Alaskan elders--some have long ago … Continue reading The Evolution of Oral Tradition
This past Monday, after I struggled and cursed in my mind for torturing myself at the gym, I walked out to the beautiful skies. I took a moment for stillness. When I took out my phone to capture this fleeting beauty in the skies, behind me I heard, "whaaatt, look at this!" I turned … Continue reading The Awakening
Let me frame this situation and story for you.. Last fall semester, I was asked if I can teach an English 111x course. This course is designed for first year college students, and/or those students who decided to put off the English course requirement for their degree until they could no longer do so. The … Continue reading A Situation and A Story…
Let me tell you the story behind this beautiful and serene shot. It was taken after a snow storm on December 31, 2016. My eldest son was home for the holidays for the first time since 2010. He had not been able to get home for the holidays because of his days in college, and … Continue reading Snow storm and The Golden Hour
The scene sets the background for every story. In "Samsara," I chose Alaska as one of the locations for the many scenes that I've written. Beneath the cold of winter months, and warmth of the summer under the Midnight Sun--is a beauty hidden from the world. Many people come to Alaska for the outdoor adventure … Continue reading Scene..
The Echo Muse 