ALASKA - Number 50!
I have many people to thank in reaching all 50
states. To my parents who drove me to about 23 states before I could
drive and for all that raising me stuff and for bringing me into the world
in Pennsylvania, #1. To all the kind people (and a few of the weird
ones) who picked me up while hitch-hiking. To Mark who picked me
up in Missoula, Montanna and let me ride with him all the way to Michigan.
To my parents who had me drop the family off at the airport in NYC, one
summer, and take a train to California to save a few bucks.
I think that inherited Rathmell desire to be cheap is what lead me to hitch-hiking
in the first place. To all the friends that let me crash at their
place along the way. To Randy who invested in my life and gave me
the NIV pocket NT that traveled with me to at least 30 states. To
Joel who accompanied me to South Dakota, #49 (he'd would have stayed with
me until 50 if I would have let him). To Christie & Kris
Minnich for feeding me my only meal in Louisianna, #48. To Jon, for
the tickets to get to Alaska, #50. To Jen, for letting us spend our
1 year anniversary in Rhode Island, #45 and for accompanying me to Alaska,
#50. I always thought it would be cool to get to all 50 states but
like so many things in life it's the journey to the goal that is often
better than attaining the goal. I have countless great memories that
will last a lifetime. In reaching this goal I am reminded of
words of Solomon in Ecclesiastes12:13 "Now all has been heard; here is
the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole of man." Solomon tried everything to gain happiness,
amassing wealth, wine, women, taking on building projects, ect but he realized
in the end that Fearing God was what mattered. In the end it won't
matter if you have spent your entire life within an hour of Scranton, PA
or if you have traveled the world if you don't fear God. The whole
duty of man is to fear God. Do you?
At the tender age of 25, my husband has reached his goal of getting
to all fifty states. Thanks to my brothers generosity in offering
us very cheap stand-by tickets, we were able to fly up to Alaska from Seattle
and reach a lifetime achievement for Buddy. We only stayed for one
day...my brother said we'd probably be stuck in Alaska for the winter if
we didn't leave the next day because everyone and their brother is trying
to leave Alaska these days...something about cold winters.
We arrived at midnight and found a hotel room for what was left of the
night. The Anchorage Airport is hopping at midnight because a lot
of flights go out that late, so that they can make connecting flights with
the rest of the world. We ended up sleeping for most of the three
hour flight, but we did get to see a little bit of a show from the Northern
Lights (aurora borialis) on the plane....very cool.
The morning greeted us with rain and cold temperatures...exacly what www.weatherchannel.com
said. The hotel clerk suggested that we go to a 3-D movie, called
the Alaska Experience. (See Above) Obviously, someone got smart
a while back and realized what a gold mine this movie idea was. Considering
that it's only nice a couple months out of the year, this is probably how
most people see Alaska. The movie was awesome, but left both Buddy
and I a little motion sick for about 8 hours afterwards.
We decided to brave the elements and headed to a couple of places along
the Anchorage Shore. It was indeed beautiful, and would've surely
blown us away on a clear, warm day. (Very bad hair day with the wind
factor involved) Even though it looks like I, Jen, was a trooper,
I only got out of the very warm car for a very short hike and photo-ops.
Other than that, I was snug as a bug in our rented white KIA.
It quickly became apparent that we were going to have to spend most of
the day inside. We did lunch at a Mongolian Bar-B-Que...(so good...our
favorite place to eat...Doug, you would love it!!),
and headed off shopping for gifts. I bought my nephew the cutest
Alaska Fleece Jacket, but it metamorphisized into a ball of synthetic plastic
in "the Fire". This flexing picture is for all of you who liked the
last one so much...I just couldn't pass it up. We spent a lot of
time that day at Barnes & Noble. I was happy as a clam, sipping
Starbucks coffee, and being warm. (A very good way to see Alaska,
for those of you who don't want to travel)
It cleared up as the day went on, and we went to go and see a movie on
the Northern Lights. It was so beautiful and peaceful. One thing
that we are learning on this trip is how gracious God is to us, his oft
way-ward creatures, in giving us such a beautiful place to live.
It is almost impossible to imagine what heaven will be like. Our
plane didn't leave until close to one a.m., so we went back to Barnes &
Noble until 11, and then headed to the airport.
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