Alaska, My Hometown

Going home to Alaska last week was one of the best vacations I have ever taken in the last few years.

In fact, this was my best visit home by a long shot.

The trip was mostly focused on family. It was actually the highlight of my vacation because it brought a lot of closure to questions that needed answering-- questions that I never really put into words. Well, maybe the best way to put it was that I learned to just accept certain things I realized I couldn't change.

For one, I reconciled with my the fact that my little brother is all grown up now. We had a few good talks, went out drinking-- even went to a strip club together. It's pretty cool when you can do the things with your younger sibling activities you would normally reserve for your close friends.

Other parts included accepting that although I'll never really understand my father or his mad-scientist approach to creating the next big thing, I truly do love him. And that, I guess, means that deep down I really do understand him. He showed me something that really amazed me: a book with every accolade, certificate, and letter of acknowledgment he's acquired over the last 40 years, complete with two crowning achievements-- his 98% graded soldering exam (up to NASA specs,) and a one-page account of his educational and employment history. I was floored that someone who only finished with a GED completed over 20 years of schooling and college courses (mostly in electronics and computers.) It's something I'll never forget.

Another highlight was just taking in all the scenery that Alaska has. Everywhere you drive, there's just you, the road, and the mountains (which are pretty darn close compared to most states.) It was awe-inspiring. And breath taking.

I think the better part of my trip was doing uncle-duty. I took my niece and nephew out for a few drives, some ice cream ala McDonald's, and watched them play soccer. It was there I realized that my nephew will never amount to a proper athlete (although for an eight-year-old he can draw some wicked pictures,) and my little niece is such an amazing little ball of fire. And a ham in front of the camera.

All in all, my trip was one of spending a lot of quality time. And I think that, combined with the scenic setting of Anchorage, was worth every minute of the 18-hour journey back and forth.