Juneau - Day 1

[theatokos]

I arrived after ten last night, Alaska time, 11 California time. Plane was late. Overwhelmed by the constant noise of traveling. Why do airports think we need televisions at the gates? The noise and the waiting wore me out. I couldn't even bring myself to listen to my specially compiled Alaska playlist on my ipod. No chance to chill out - it was a Thursday night and I was whisked off to open mic night at the Alaskan. The fabulous automata was emcee and damn can that woman sing. Her voice is powerful but she knows how to use it. The rest of the music was remarkably good for open mics. One guy was a brilliant guitar player and sang well, very Jason Mraz-like. In fact, almost too much like Jason Mraz. Like he'd learned to play every song he'd ever liked in the style of Jason Mraz. A bit tedious after the first 4 songs.

Open mic night did not help my overwhelmed feelings. I recognized no one in the bar. Not entirely unsurprising given it is summer in a tourist town. However, around midnight two waves of familiar faces washed in, all people who were students when I was working at JDHS. I realize this it's flat out stupid that I felt uncomfortable seeing as how the friends I am staying with are former students from when I was working at the high school. I realized this back to back with "Of course you don't recognize anyone - everyone you went to school with has kids and stays at home at midnight during the work week."

I've had a great morning. Breakfast with Dad was really nice. He seemed just pleased to see me and made breakfast plans with me for later in the week. So nice! I picked up my mother's car and drove out to the glacier. There are large gaps in the glacier now. It seems so small now! On the way back to town I noticed that the roads seemed nearly deserted - this, plus my awareness of the quiet here, remind me just how inured I've become to California, it's noise, it's motion, it's fullness. I also realized during a walk along the flume just how constantly overstimulated my nervous system is in Oakland. It's going to take me a day or two or three to unwind and unfold in the quiet here.

Walking around town, I discovered two very nice boutiques here, one of which sells Campers and John Fluevog shoes. Way cool. Too bad I'm not in the position to buy fancy shoes. Not all change is bad.

Tomorrow I'm going to the Jump Society short film show. Always so much fun. Now it's time to figure out my borrowed digital camera works.

Comments

[miss-ogyny.livejournal.com]

call me at work...586-0770

[erinya.livejournal.com]

Yay for Alaska! I'm glad you're having a good time. :-)

Ah, the glacier

[hrafntinna.livejournal.com]

I hear you, I hear you. I am off soon to my own land of glaciers, and after a year I'm sure it will be much changed in many ways. Uncomfortable but inevitable.