Now yesterday I was listening to the noon radio show. It's a talk show and the topic was the North. The hostess had asked if we'd been in the north and what our experience was. She had 2 northern guests to add to the conversation.
She had many phone calls, emails and twitter comments.
All people emphasized how impressed with the North they were. They mentioned vast open spaces. A feeling of peace and quiet. Discovery. Personal growth. Most people said it had caused a major change in their life that stayed with them.
Most callers were strongly urging that every southerner should have a trip to the North. One caller suggested that all northern travelers be paid for their trip North.
When I heard the comments and descriptions , I was brought back to my time in the north. I was influenced by aboriginal culture. Then I was influenced by colleagues who were from many other parts of the country. We had to mix or at least I did. I couldn't help but come away with a different point of view. Various comments reminded me of different experiences. Flying on bush planes and landing on floats. All night parties when it didn't get dark! The characters who had lived in the north...trappers.
I met them all.
My wife and I talk about the North everyday. We relive experiences . We wonder what would have happened if we'd stayed there.
So listening to this hour long show brought back many good memories and a sniffle.
Soapstone carvings
 |
| My 34 pound lake trout from Great bear Lake |
My winter coat ans sealskin
I grew up in the north though not quite as far as where you lived and worked. I love the north. The only thing I don't love are the long, cold winters. I agree that every southerner should travel to the north at least once.
ReplyDeleteThe north sticks with you forever.
Delete...and you call it "the north."
ReplyDeleteYep. the north is a thing!
DeleteThe older the more memories we have and it is nice to relive the good times we had. You lived in a very special area. I bought in Canada a little soapstone polar bear :)
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how the memories help to make sense of other experiences.
DeleteHello, you have many happy memories. The soapstone carvings are beautiful. That coat looks very warm. The north sounds like my kind of place, I like the feeling of peace and quiet. Happy Thursday, enjoy your day!
ReplyDeleteFor two years one of my jobs was to buy soapstone carvings from the Inuit . Of course , I was an administrator and the carvings then belonged to the government.
DeleteA visit to the North is nothing like living and working there and being immersed in its life. You weren't a tourist -- that makes a huge difference in perception. Those are wonderful soapstone carvings and I can just imagine the memories you and your wife share. Paul and I reminisce often about our days of teaching in rural Appalachia when we were very young and it's so precious to have someone who remembers with you.
ReplyDeleteThere's a much different style of life in the north. We lived in it rather than some southerners who did their job and nothing else.
DeleteI am a sniffler, too, Red. I cry at the drop of a hat. Glad to know I'm in good company. :-)
ReplyDeleteSensitive is what you are.
DeleteYou have led an amazing life!!!! I enjoy reading about it. I've led a sheltered life!
ReplyDeleteI did take risks.
DeleteI am intrigued by the north, the strength and fortitude it takes to make a life there. I have thought about what it is like to live someplace where there is not much light in winter and not much darkness in summer. And, I have wondered if we grow accustomed to the light in the latitude where we were born and raised, and changes to that are hard to manage.
ReplyDeleteYou have a good point about being accustomed but I like both the light and the dark. the light was energizing.
DeleteSuch an incredible experience you've had. These are wonderful - sniffle-worthy - memories.
ReplyDeleteI think my mother was very worried when I was in the North.
DeleteI haven't been north into the territories, but I'd love to get up there someday.
ReplyDeleteYes, don't miss the opportunity. Who know? You might find some great photo opportunities.
DeleteI get that grab from the silliest things sometimes, it shows us we are human
ReplyDeleteIt shows that we're sensitive and that's good.
DeleteMy eyes leak for everything!
ReplyDeleteI can't really imagine "the north". I suspect I would like it but I don't have the skills neccessary to be so independent
Snifflers are sensitive. As a visitor, there are many tourist facilities now. As an employee the government or company looks after you. However, you can't just stay in the house by yourself.
DeleteI loved camping in the Yukon but never caught a trout that big..;)
ReplyDeleteThat trout was one of the major events of my life. It took over half an hour to land it. Somebody else got to eat it.
DeleteI spent time in the Yukon on our trip to Alaska. Loved it and hope to spend more time there one day.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to add, I really like the carvings. They have a warmth about them....
ReplyDeleteYou have wonderful memories of your time in the north. Memories can make us nostalgic, a sort of sweet sadness.
ReplyDeleteYour favourite guy looks very happy! It's okay to sniffle. Or cry.
ReplyDeleteLook at the size of that fish! Holy cow! It's cool that your northern adventures shaped so much of your life, even now.
ReplyDeleteThe North has clearly left an enormous impression on you and it is good that your wife shared those times with you. If she hadn't she wouldn't understand your special feelings about Canada's wilderness. Could you perhaps fly back there one last time? Perhaps next spring or summer?
ReplyDeleteI lived in Alaska for almost a decade abd got to record Native stories through the University of Alaska Fairbanks. It changed my life and I always appreciated the things I learned and the friendships that were created. We lived there from 1995-2004.
ReplyDeleteWe talk about the old days here too:)
ReplyDeleteI enjoy reading about your experiences in the North.
ReplyDeleteGood gosh! That's the biggest trout I've ever seen!
ReplyDelete