Independence Day Alaskan Style

The following morning we woke up to a typical Alaskan situation - people showed up at our door that I’d never met before and ask us if we’d like to hike the Otterbaun with them. It was two families - sisters with 6 kids each who’s parents lived down the road from Glenn. They had met a few of our kids at church the day before and found out where we were camped and dropped in. They pulled up in a short bus completely covered in brightly painted mountains, fish, octopus. Very Alaskan style. So while Tim and Glenn finished up the outhouse, the kids and I joined these lovely homeschool families for a hike to the beach. I enjoyed visiting with the new faces and hearing about some of my old friends that they also knew.

Then the kids and I walked around downtown Seldovia to see what had changed and what was still the same. See what the older girls remembered. Walked by our old house and down the old boardwalk and got ice cream (which was surprisingly reasonable!!). We ran into several familiar faces and hugged and chatted. The boys checked the bridge to see if any king salmon had come in. The weather was off and on cloudy and misty so it wasn’t miserable. Got our visitor’s card at the library, picked out some books to help pass the time in the rain. Then settled in for king salmon for dinner (gift from Pat and Ann) with Glenn in the camper.

Makes you think twice about how badly you want those Doritos...

Or Apples 😩

The next day was the 4th. Independence Day looks a bit different than what most people think of for the 4th fo July. No one is wearing shorts or playing in sprinklers in the hot sun. It’s too cold for lemonade and ice cream. Watermelons are $20 each so if there was watermelon to eat, it was gone by the time you got to the dish. And fireworks are for New Years Eve when it actually gets dark. Seldovia’s 4th is a pretty big deal and people come from literally miles around and ride the ferry over or camp for the weekend (this is the reason the ferry was to full for our van on Thursday). The town probably doubles in size on the 4th. There is always a 5K - the Salmon Shuffle, a pancake breakfast at the firehall, a library book sale and a rubber duckie race down the slough. Most of which we have hardly participated in bc they cost money, but they are fun to watch. There is always a parade and the whole town puts together all sorts of crazy floats. Our family actually one first prize for a float the year Micah was an infant. We decorated our bike trailer to look like a pirates ship and the three kids dressed like pirates. Apparently it was a hit.

Anyway, we walked around town a bit and ran into about a million people that recognized us. I forgot just how many people you get to know during 8 years in a tiny community of 230 people. And it was interesting to see who was still here and who had moved on and who was back for a visit for the 4th. The kids didn’t remember many of them, but everyone remembered them! At least the older 4. Elias was bitterly disappointed when he discovered he had actually been born in NC and not Alaska.

The next part of the day subsisted of an assortment of games but the kids really, really wanted to head out to the Island Church for their celebration. So after the parade we left town and headed 13 miles out to the Jakalof dock where Simeon picked us up in his skiff. We had the chance to stop at his new little house first. What a beautiful little space. Just as cozy and quaint as the rest of the sweet little homes on this side. You can hardly see it tucked into the trees.

We headed to the church where everyone was gathering for some patriotic singing. Neighbors from all the little bays and islands came for the little celebration. It was just a few, a “small crowd” this year of just a few families. We knew everyone from years past.

And so followed another Island celebration, brainchild, as usual of Ann and her sister Jane. So many memories of these quaint little parties with all sorts of creative games, songs, and crafts. It’s incredible what they put together with bits of paper, some paint and toilet paper rolls - whatever they can find. They are some of the most resourceful people I’ve ever known. This year there was a a rather bizarre relay race which involved stringing a bull kelp through your shirts, a giant US trivia game, a natural sculpture contest, cookie decorating, an art project, and a scavenger hunt. Winners were awarded "medals" - clan shells painted with a flag and the date. Despite the rather miserable rain outside, we were warm and dry in the little church building.

I was reveling in the opportunity to rock Simeon and Naomi’s 3 month old Elliot to sleep. I bounced to the beat of Abbey’s guitar while the rest of festivities went on. Man, I miss those squishy little sacks of helpless sweetness.

We left a little early to truck back to Glenn’s for his annual potluck and fire. It was still a constant drizzle, but his picnic table and fire pit are all under a giant spruce tree which provided a surprisingly adequate covering for the fairly large crowd that showed up. It certainly wasn’t the kind of Independence Day we typically enjoy, but the kids said it was the best 4th of July they had ever had.

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