Do you know how lovely the clouds can look under an airplane? like a bed of cotton fluffy and soft. So very very lovely! As time past and the clouds cleared up you could see an elusive cloud approaching the plane, and see the plane pass through it, like it was mist.

All this was something I had never before experienced in my whole life.

I lived in Alaska for 2 and a half years. I had never seen anything so beautiful (except the ocean) before in my life.
 
At that time 1977, there were still woods surrounding the fort we lived in. From our quarters we could see Mt. Mckinley on a bright sun shiney day, the snow capped moutain ranges are the most gorgeous thing I had ever seen in all my life!
 
Has anyone seen the movie Insomnia?  Remember when he could not sleep, cause there was so much daylight? Well it is true, in Ft.Wainwright Alaska, it is called the summer Solstice, there is hardly any night time at all. you have to cover your windows with foil, in order to sleep at all, to distinguish night and day.  The main day of the summer solstice is June 21st, when there is almost no night time at all.
 
After June 21st,  Alaska starts gaining night and losing day. Losing day you ask? Yep!  Losing it,  until you get to the winter Solstice Which is December 21st. When there is no daylight at all, it is 12 noon, and you have to drive your car with the headlights on.  Incredible! and yes, that first year my car froze solid. How was I supposed to know those post's in front of the quarters were to plug in the car's engine/battery blanket?  You see, I was there in September, and I was there for only 1 month when L got orders for a month long training in FT.Greely. I had been in Alaska only 1 month, I knew nothing and he had to leave me alone, without friends or family for a FULL month! LOL.

I loved winter, that very first snow fall, OOOOOOOOoooo, I was sooo angry cause I could not make SNOW BALLS, my very first time ever ever seeing snow and then after all I had heard of snow balls, I could not make even one. The snow was DRY, and powdery, not moist and sticky How L laughed and laughed and came out side with a bucket of warm water showed me how to make snow balls in Alaska and threw it at ME, WOW, my first snow fight!!! lololol.

And yes Summers can get hot in Alaska AND you better watch out. The first time I went outside to get a suntan after the winter, I BURNT and I didn't even KNOW IT. I was used to wet hot humid summers, where the sun beats down on you and you can hardly breath and thought since I dont even sweat in this dry totally fresh air, I will be alright. NOPE, it HURT! Looked like a shrimp from head to toe... hahaha.

 
But most incredible to me of all about Alaska, were the northern lights, and the wild animals. There is nothing in the world that compares to the day when we were fishing, it was getting twilight, and the  the sky burst in dance, with a spectacular light show, colors swirling and twirling, disappearing and coming about once again. And while we were staring in awe at the site, we hear a twig/branch,  break behind us, we turn and low and behold, and elk was walking towards the water for a drink.  He turns his huge head and looks at us, then takes another drink, and takes off, and all this time the sky is still dancing with lights of color totally disappearing then slowly coming back again like ocean waves in full living color, it is a spectacular site to behold...

Yes now at 48 years old, I wonder if it all, was truly as wonderful as my mind remembers it. I was an 17-18 year old girl, finally free for the first time. Surely that freedom from pain and abuse had something to do with how I saw and experienced Alaska?  I wish with all my heart to go back and find out.

 

Mini clips of Alaska's Northern Lights

Pictures of Alaska's Northern Lights