One of the BEST things about living this crazy military spouse life is that I have friends all over the country. I mean, it would be ideal if all my best friends could live in the same city, heck I would settle for the same state, but traveling to see friends is pretty amazing. I have learned that we can easily pack a lifetime worth of memories in a week long trip. Quality sometimes does win over quantity.
This summer I was able to sneak away from my busy life, and enjoy all that Kodiak, Alaska had to offer. I’ll never forget when I called up Nancy, and said “can I come?” and she responded with, “stay as long as you can!”. The next morning my tickets were booked, and a week and a half later,I was on my way.
1. Community still exists.
In Kodiak, everyone knows everyone. And its not a bad thing! Life on an island in Alaska can be very isolating, but the community ties truly help you to never feel alone. From the little coffee shops that know your order, to the neighborhood “family” dinners, you feel welcomed and loved. When someone’s freezer is full of halibut, they share. When someone’s freezer is full of bison, they share. This is also the reason I had my first goat tacos. They were AMAZING! It’s something so simple, but so encouraging to see.
2. There are views that still take my breath away.
I feel extremely fortunate to be able to call Washington home (for now!). I am constantly surrounded by the most beautiful scenery. Mt. Rainier is part of my everyday view. It is called the “Evergreen State” after all. All this to say, Kodiak blew my mind with its beauty. Everywhere I looked, BAM! a another stunning view of nature. Even the fog was beautiful. I have never seen a more vibrant green landscape. EVER! Not only was the island green, but it also is beautifully adorned with the most stunning purple fire weeds, and bright red salmon berries. If that wasn’t enough, the cliffs and ocean views are truly amazing. All along the road there are cars lined up just watching the water, and taking in the views. The miles of beaches, each with their own color of sand. One of the smaller beaches was littered with sea glass, it was unlike anything I have ever seen.
3. Searching for wildlife is my new favorite hobby.
I lost track of the hours Nancy and I spent hunting for bears. All I wanted was to see a Kodiak Grizzly in the wild. And I DID!!, Not just one but 3, and the last one was at night on the river! Unfortunately, I didn’t get a single photo of one of these massive beasts, but it honestly was amazing to just enjoy the moment. (From the safety of her truck!) I saw more bald eagles than I even knew existed. Hundreds of eagles swarmed the island dump. The birds that I had always viewed as majestic creatures, were nothing more than massive seagulls on the island. One of the most amazing moments was when I came nose to nose with a berry eating fox. He was curious, and so was I. Not going to lie, he totally won our stare down, and the second he made some quick movements towards my face I was done! I saw whales while standing on the beach. I was close enough to hear them blow as they surfaced the water! Oh, and how can I leave out all the precious puppies I saw while out of walks. They were so adorable!
4. Alone time is healing.
The first half of 2018 was hard. Between shoulder injuries, a broken leg, and then a reconstructive surgery, I had to take on a lot for my family. In the midst of it all, I lost a little bit of myself. In Kodiak, something as simple as cooking dinner with new friends was like a breath of fresh air. Staying out until the morning, having the time of my life, was so good for my soul. Watching whales breach, and eagles fish are things I will never forget. But nothing compared to just going for a walk, all by my self, up the side of a mountain. The peace and calmness overwhelmed me. I was able to let go of so many things that I didn’t even know I was holding onto, simply because all the distractions were finally stripped away. I needed to just let the quiet soothe my aching soul, and I swear I will never be the same. I feel like so much of my life I have wanted to fix things by doing something. “There has to be something I can do” has been my motto. Little did I know that so much can be healed when I just let go, and take a moment to be quiet. I have taken this self-taught lesson on the importance of alone time, and done my best to take moments for myself in my everyday life.
I feel like my passion for travel and adventure has been ignited. No longer do I dream about resort vacations, but now I crave adventure and new experiences. When is the last time you went out exploring just to find something you have never seen before? I encourage to step a bit out of your comfort zone, and discover this amazing world we are blessed to have!
