This has been a more active weekend for Niilo and Joan: A morning visit by Etuk and Nana then a zero-degree but sparkling, sunny, snowy ride on the Tanana Valley Railroad steam Engine No. 1 (built in 1899), followed by cookies and cider in the railroad museum on Saturday; then Max and Rob sharing breakfast, Potluck Sunday at Friends Meeting (Quakers) for Niilo and Heather, and a movie for Joan and Alex.
Niilo laughed when the little engine had trouble with a frozen brake on an uphill grade, not at all distressed by the unplanned stop.
We have discussed elections lots, and Joan has marked her sample ballot; Niilo hasn’t figured out Proposition A nor the retention of judges, but he is voting too.
Heather
I too laughed as I read of Niilo not being distressed by the unplanned stop. The description gave me an image of Niilo, as from an old newspaper headline – hand set type, struggling editor working late, perhaps at that little newspaper in the old town site at Chena – and the editor or pressman holding up the proof sheet and smiling as it proclaims
Niilo Not Distressed By
Unplanned Stop On Uphill Grade!
These are the feelings many of us have these days, of being on the uphill grade. Here in our neighborhood we have just completed a fundraiser for a family overwhelmed by medical bills. This is medicine in America. One of the unplanned stops. The politics of profit has grated hard lately. The good part of course is the community comes together to help, and, I think in time we will build to a better tomorrow. It is important to keep faith. Some times all I can do is force resignation. Lucky is the man who can laugh at the bumps along the road.
Clouds covered
Last light
And wind
Roared, bending
Pine
Juniper and Aspen
Tracks faded
Notebook pages fluttered
Sound, motion
Cold
Became stronger than vision
And I
Reversed course
Feeling more than seeing
Following footsteps
That were
Not entirely mine
But
A concession to the night
Love to all… john culbertson