The calendar start of winter, the solstice, is today. When I was young, it had no meaning other than “the first day of winter” but in Alaska, the shortest day of the year means that for the next six months, the days are once again getting longer and daylight is returning. Yes, there are still the January blues and the February crazies to get through, but by the beginning of March, the daylight matches what my Lower 48 family has and by the middle of March, we’ve surpassed it. Something to look forward to.
Sometimes I think about what Garrison Keillor used to say about those stalwart German Lutherans. Something along the lines of, they’re not happy unless they’re miserable. I’m not miserable by any means, but I wonder to myself why I like it up here. Oh yeah, it’s gorgeous.
The fall season passed very quickly, with Iris in school and me back to teaching high school. I’m very happy with both places. It’s so cool to watch Iris recognize words and write with more confidence. She likes school but also likes sleeping in on the weekends. We did a fun run fundraiser together for her school back in September. Her teacher is very much into crafts and doing things. With the holidays it seemed like every week she was asking for supplies in her weekly parent letter. Yes ma’am, I will happily get you three sheets of red glitter foam from the craft store. Oh, Iris signed me up to bring a pumpkin pie for the Stone Soup Feast? No problem. I still find it surreal sometimes that I am mom to a kindergartner.
wild iris adventures 