Just a quick update for those who ask. SP is out of the hospital, not being nauseated by his pain medication any more. According to Alena: “Hello from the Anch airport! Your grandson is doing better this morning, Ron can actually convince him to eat and drink better then I can (Ron’s apple juice tastes better then mine…how does that work?). I’m on my way to SFO this morning. PS, love the post about your wedding…why are my legs so fat?”
Tag: Unalaska
StoryCorps Unalaska Hoping for Akutan
In the hopes of making it to Akutan next week for some StoryCorps sessions, I have changed my header to the mode of transportation that will be ours for the trip. Everyone who flies around the Aleutians knows the Grumman Goose. It is the plane to take when runways are in short supply.
The photo is courtesy of Alaska Airlines pilot Burke Mees, who spent more than a few years piloting the Goose for Peninsula Airways. Burke continues to maintain his ties with Unalaska as he still comes out to do check rides with the other Goose pilots. And he comes to Unalaska for vacations!
My husband, Caleb, is an airframe and powerplant mechanic, and he had a love-hate relationship with the Goose. I like the Grumman Goose so much that we got married in it. It was April 5, 1997. Hopefully flying on April 6, 2009 will bring the same good luck for Kristine and I and StoryCorps!
Laresa had never flown in the goose before. She got on, and she got off!
Yes, the engines are extremely loud. It felt pretty funny shouting, “I do!!!!!!”
Freezing our butt’s off on the tarmac for the after shot. We then adjourned to the aerology building – now the WWII Museum – for our reception.
Kristine and I are going to have so much fun! April, hope you are ready for your 40 minute conversation! Only audio, no video. A couple of snapshots for posterity. See you soon.
StoryCorps Unalaska Update
StoryCorps Unalaska is quickly approaching the point of no return. April 30th will be our last recording day. This evening Kristine and I recorded our 72nd Unalaska story. Woo hoo!!! We are getting so close to our goal of 105 stories. We have booked slots up and actually only have about 25 slots available for booking.
Kristine and I have gone all philosophical during breaks while waiting for folks who have forgotten their appointments (isn’t that a nice way of putting it?). We have decided that although we have always appreciated the people in Unalaska, we have been priviledged to get to see factions to their personalities that sometimes are not visible as they present themselves to the public. We are so in awe of this opportunity.
That being said….we are having a HOOT of a time. Team Unalaska is dedicated to hard work, but we are the team that just has to have fun.
Kristine and I have both interviewed priests. Sorry, StoryCorps NY, this is as close as we could get. Lots of grey space between us.
We have facilitated for mothers and daughters.
And fathers and daughters.
And mothers and sons.
And a husband and wife, or two.
A couple of sisters.
A veteran of three wars.
And best of friends.
We have our standard issue box of tissue for those tender moments.
Things can start out quite seriously.
And sometimes just take on a life of their own.
Kristine has gotten quite the reputation around town. We joke that we will have to put an ad on channel 8 and in the Dutch Harbor Fisherman letting people know that after April 30 it will be safe to approach Kristine again.
She has, unfairly, I might add, been called a stalker and has been accused of ambushing people. We are tricksters of the best sort. And in all this nudging, and cajoling, we have not had one person who did not enjoy the experience. And I’ll tell you something…she is the best partner in the world!
New York thinks that Kristine’s and my blurry pictures are because Unalaska people are just so full of energy that they can’t stand still. We let them think that, but secretly, Kristine and I have both vowed to stand still ourselves when shooting pics!
So, let me invite you all, once again, to give Kristine a call at 359-8016 to schedule your conversation before StoryCorps wraps up the Alaska Initiative. Ya won’t regret it. And Akutan….here we come!
Tell your story. Pass it on. Remember, for Alaskans, its free.
Unalaska From My Point of View 
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