(Don’t) Hurry up and wait…. In Alaska.

I’ve always complained about the “hurry up and wait” mentality. I *KNOW* that you should always be appreciative and aware of the place that you are… And not try to rush life.

Yet, I still struggle with this, daily.

There’s hope (for me), though! I got slightly closer to understanding this during my latest trip to Alaska.

Touching a Glacier! It’s sad to think you can’t touch that same spot anymore.

Weird wind that makes the trees bend.

“I AM HUMAN!”

My fathead, brother.

Old growth forest

Muskeg

More muskeg

I’m recording the “magical fluffy playground”

---

Transcript:

yak whack

music start
This past summer, my family took a wildlife cruise -which is where I am, right now… Chichagof Island, Idaho inlet, Alaska. The entire tour was spent being herded from one place to another, forced to listen to impersonal lectures, and being bombarded with announcements that would usher you to a location- where you stand and wait for stuff to happen…

****
****

Alaska is…. Beautiful. And this cruise didn’t really disappoint. I mean, we DID end up seeing a lot of wildlife! Bears, Seals, and heaps of whales.

*

I’ve been to Alaska before and have experienced the really delicate balance between the slow drip of fear and letting my heart rate slow down and enjoy what’s around me… But on this tour, I couldn’t seem to do that. Maybe it was the boat, p.s. I get sea-sick just looking at boats…

****

Or maybe it was the cruise’s “hurry up and wait” policy that was making me completely exhausted.

Either which way, when they announced that there was a yak-and-whack the following day, I signed up immediately and convinced my brother, Josh, to do the same.

What is it? Who knows! When does it leave? 7am!

ALARM BEEPS* SFX
“COME ON, JOSH! WAKE UP!” <— SFX in background

Bouncing with excitement and/or caffeine, we go to the loading dock where our kayak was waiting for us.

This is when we learned that A “yak and whack” is a kayak trip from a boat, finding some land to conquer, getting whacked by the forest, then a kayak trip back to the boat. 7 hours total.

That’s 7 hours not on the boat. Sweet.

The first 2 hours were lovely.
*Calm waters, the tide was on its way out,
*seals poking their heads out and looking at us,
*slight drizzle,
But overall great views. The last 30min of kayaking, however, it started to *pour- soaking everything that may have been kept dry with ultimate Alaskan rain gear. It didn’t matter what you were wearing or not wearing- we all got onto the beach drenched, shivering, cold and miserable-even though it’s summer. It’s the type of thing that makes you question your judgement on why you signed up for something like this in the first place— instead of opting for a hot-cocoa and nap day instead.

We eat our soggy lunch under some *trees before scaling this rock and tree-root cliff before the forest opening up before us like a magical fluffy playground.

——– SFx interlude

Stepping on the soft moss and decomposing wood that feels like nature’s couch cushions.

Looking out at the Hundreds of shades of green- that would make photoshop jealous.

Focusing on the chocolate lilies that a God-Ray is highlighting, poking through the old-growth forest canopy.

Inhaling the smell of fresh rain on damp wood that can only be replicated by visiting the real thing- no matter how much Yankee candle tries.

Yet… I was still cold. And I wished we could hurry up and get someplace where it was more pleasant. Like a hot springs.

---

We make our way over this ledge and into a clearing- which is really a muskeg… An acidic bog where the peet moss absorbs so much of the water, but slightly changes the PH of it- making it so nothing else can grow as easily. Even though every footstep is super soggy*
and results in squishy puddles*- all the trees and plants have desert-plant adaptations to try to hold onto fresh water as best as they can.

Josh and I are super adventerous- that’s why we decided to wear sandals on this whole trek- even though waders was probably a better idea. Neither of our feet ever get cold, which is great! But that’s about the only super power we have.

My body is STILL really cold. My fingers are blue. I look at Josh. He got a blister from the flip-flops he decided to wear. And even though the rain has let up a little, we’re still waterlogged frozen messes.

Josh plops down, we wrap his foot with athletic tape, I stick my hands under my arm pits and jump around a little. The clouds roll in again and rain starts to plop down again. We make our way through the muskeg, swamp, creek* and find ourselves in this clearing of old-growth forest. I ask the ever-smiling guide if we can sit in silence for 30 seconds while I record it for my library.

start of jazz/forest

She shouts for bears first- then relays to  the group “hey guys. Let’s remember what we just went through to get here- and be appreciative of what we’re listening to.”

Fade up

So- we sit and listen….

The rain, being moody, has picked up*, but we’re shielded by the canopy. and the huge plunks of rain is splatting on the devil’s club like a jazz percussionist.

PAUSE

And the birds are playing a call/response game in syncopated rhythm.

PAUSE

As we stood in silence, listening to nature’s music- I started to reflect…

music cut suddenly….. Start to fade up

She was right.

There was
a lot
of stuff
we went through.

The sudden downpour.
The soggy lunch.
The waterlogged hiking.

All to get…. here.

The wilderness. ***

Too many times I’m all about the destination.

Grass is greener, and all that stuff.

I rarely take the time to sit back and be in the moment. To be aware of where I just came from and the adventure I’m on NOW.

——–SFx interlude/jazz

On this particular day?
That half
Way point
was the best part.

This.. Is the destination.

When was the last time you sat and listened to the rain? Write me a review on iTunes or email me at LN.Lurie@yahoo.com. If you want to see pictures of my Alaskan adventure- go to my blog at LNLurie.com. Thank you so much to my fathead brother, Josh and my parents for going on this adventure with me and to James ‘pancake’ Gralian for lending me his wonderful ear.

FADE OUT
BSN MUSIC*
Ok- 2 things:

First- I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to get another episode out. I was traveling this whole summer and I have some GREAT STORIES for you that I’m SUPER EXCITED ABOUT!. So stay tuned! They’ll be coming out, I hope, every other week- server space depending.

Second:
I’ve also gotten some questions about the intro music…
INTRO MUSIC
This is a little story:

That’s Charlie. He’s a bassoon. I went to music school- yep, useless degree- but, no surprise, I didn’t major in bassoon playing.

Apparently this is a huge “no-no” in some legal circles. So I’ll keep them there- free. But moving on, the music will either be all Charlie, my bassoon, or royalty free music.

I’ll try to add bassoon stories at the end, for all those interested in nerdy-LN’s life.