January & February 2006
: Winter is the time of year that many McCarthyites choose to visit family and friends. Anna decided to break up the season by going south for the Christmas holidays. After a week-long stretch of frigid temperatures that dipped down to -45, I’m sure Arizona with its sunshine and much warmer temperatures looked mighty good to Anna. Of course, her parents, Scott and Sally Wallin, and her grandparents, Jim and Peggy Guntis, all were eager to have Anna join in on the annual celebration festivities. According to Anna, they begin early and end late in the season.
In fact, she only had a few hours to change clothes and do some shopping after embarking from the plane in Tucson before her presence was needed at the Guntis’s annual Christmas tree-trimming party.
: Saying goodbye is never easy, but it is something we all have to do at some time or another. Michelle was offered a job with Connecting Ties in Valdez this winter and she, Carl and Tracey have now relocated there for the present time. She assured us that she will be back as often as she can, but they are enjoying the amenities of a small city—running water, an indoor bathroom, a fully-supplied kitchen and heat at one’s fingertips. Throwing in a library, a couple grocery stores and other shopping facilities all within walking distance makes Valdez a nice place to be— if you’re not in McCarthy, that is!
We send our very best wishes to Michelle, Carl and Tracey in their new adventure!
: Marie Thorn of Kennicott (I’ll refer to her as my roving reporter this issue) graciously wrote a depiction of life in the quiet (?) community of Kennicott this winter. It is much different than the hustle and bustle of summer.
“The greater Kennicott area, population 6 humans since Halloween, is home to 14 dogs as well. Tanker Mike Monroe is mixing tuna snacks with kibble for his own dog Samantha and has graciously adopted two more dogs until their respective owners return in late January. Keeping his floor warm is Anna Wallin’s canine, Luna, and Rudy Richards, the 14-year old ‘mayor of Kennicott’ who survived his man father, Chris Richards, in a house fire during solstice 2001. We’re all thinking of Chris and his family this time of year.
“Rudy, otherwise, was with Steve and Diane Thorn, Matt and Megan Smith, also of Kennicott, or Dave Williams and myself. We’ve all abandoned him for the holidays.... Thanks, Mike!
“At the home of Dave and Marie, cabin floor dimensions, 10 x 10, is a pack of 3 rabbit chasers—Husquvarna, Antionette, Rourke and Soltana Smith. Tana is in our care until Sunday the 18th when we will deliver her to Megan in Girdwood.
“Down the road are Chris Chester and Johnny McGrath. Chris is staying on the Sill homestead while Johnny is keeping a good eye on the Miller homestead. Chris has 6-month old Linda Lu from the summer 2005 McCarthy litter and Johnny has his hands full with the paws of Mouse, Moose (his own dog here from California), Xena, Angel, Dude, Tattoo and Morgan. Representing the feline contingent are Smirnoff and Bugs, the latter an albino who is deaf.
“Discussing all the personalities associated with these animals is highly entertaining, and hauling wood and water to keep these creatures warm provides us all plenty of exercise.”
was all set to play hostess to another annual Christmas cookie exchange for the ladies of the McCarthy/Kennicott area. The ladies were all set to attend. December 16th was the date and the Edwards’s house was the place.
On that Friday morning, however, the participants awoke to one of those winter rains that causes trails and roads to turn into skating rinks. Walking to Audrey’s house was out of the question; snowmachine tracks had nothing much to give them traction and those living on hills were unable to get down their driveways. Well... we determined they might be able to get down but getting back up was another story! Audrey decided the ladies would be best served to stay in the safety of their cabins and reschedule our festivity for another time. This time it will be a New Year’s exchange. “Same time and place, but on Friday, December 30. Hopefully, the weather will be better and you can come,” says Audrey.
The single men will have missed their usual Christmas cookie/candy plates, I’m sure, and for that we ladies of the community say, “We are sorry, but don’t give up on us. There could be some New Year’s goodies in your mail box.”
: One of those men who would have benefitted from the plate of goodies is Neil. When I called the McCarthy Lodge to see if he had any item of interest, he said he has been busy —working on the McCarthy 2006 Centennial Project, taking reservations and corresponding with returning staff for the upcoming summer season. Winter may be a quiet time for our town but not a time for inactivity as far as Neil is concerned.
Speaking of holiday fare... Dan received a Christmas gift this last mail day from his mom, Mary Kaye Golden of Wisconsin. It was somewhat of a temptation for those of us who were on hand to sort mail. Dan’s Christmas present was a box of Omaha Steaks and he was not on hand to retrieve the goodies for himself. It took courage on the part of the mail sorters (I was one) to resist starting a bonfire and “doin’ in” those steaks! Dan’s “assistant,” Jeremy Keller, came to the rescue of his neighbor and offered to hand deliver the goods to their rightful owner. I hope you are counting your blessings this Christmas season, Dan!
The Nizina Road is approximately 9 milesanddown that way live some of my neighbors —summer and year ‘round. At the present time, population is low in numbers but certainly not in quality. As I write this item, we are fast approaching Christmas and a good portion of folks are out visiting family members and some, like , are off on an adventure to places like Washington, DC. I’m sure Natalie is giving Tessa a real live history lesson in our nation’s capital.
— —will be enjoying the holidays tucked away in their cozy log home that Kurt built. Kelsey is staying busy with her homeschooling subjects. When Peggy is working her nursing job (this winter it is in Barrow), Kurt steps up to the plate and puts his instructor’s hat on. I called them yesterday and Kurt answered the phone. He and Kelsey were making plans to drive to Fairbanks the next morning and pick up Peggy who will take her Christmas break with her family before returning to her nursing duties. Kurt said he had quite a list of projects he was working on but the major ones are bringing in the winter firewood and keeping his trails open. He was happy to report the McCarthy Creek crossing remained frozen during the most recent warm spell McCarthy endured. Traversing this creek can be a real challenge for my Nizina Road friends and neighbors.
Items of Interest
January & February 2006
