October 24, 2002
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I’ve been blogging in the comments box again. At the risk of creating a nothing little mini-blog here that will get all the attention today, leaving the real blog neglected below, here’s an exchange I thought deserved to be out here on page 1:
I am in such awe of your Spirit. I can’t imagine travelling the way you did. I can’t imagine arriving in a place with less than $5 in my pocket. Your life is both terrifying and thrilling to me.
Posted 10/23/2002 at 7:46 pm by quiltnmomi
“…terrifying and thrilling…” That’s what it was for me, too. I don’t do terror very much any more, have achieved a semi-mellow state now, but I still get thrilled when, for example, I read stories like the one of the grizzly that recently went through the door into a hotel up north in Deadhorse. The village public safety officer had to go in and shoot him… or maybe it was a fish and game officer… anyway, the bear was a “well-known local bear.”
We had a thrill this morning at 3:27, when a 6.2 quake hit near the surface between here and Denali Park. And how did I know the magnitude? Doug was up, at the computer. The shaking woke me and the critters. Doug and I were talking and laughing, when Greyfox called from the back, “What’s all that brouhaha?” I answered, “Oh, about a 6.2.” Preliminary magnitude report said 6.5, then it was downgraded to 6.2. I hear there was visible movement of a local fault. They’re gonna show it on the news tonight.
Posted 10/23/2002 at 8:12 pm by SuSu
Comments (2)
You know, I sense that mellowness in your writing. You write with the clear voice of someone who sees the events from emotional distance. Almost like a parent looking at the exploits of a loved child. The knowledge that you are writing about yourself infuses the narrative with a power of contrast between the mellow and the thrill.
That’s some excitement. We had an earthquake here a few months back (on my birthday) but it wasn’t nearly that strong – I think it came out at 4.7, and we aren’t experienced enough with quakes to gestimate them in advance of the official announcement.
someday i want to be a “well known local bear.”
i don’t do adventure well myself. it’s exciting after the fact, but mostly i get real scared that something is gonna go amiss and i’ll be shot through a lung or something….