Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3.

For as long as I can remember I've always wanted to go to Alaska.

I'm not quite sure when this exact notion came into existence, but I'm pretty positive it was between my conscious-ability-to-put-stories-into-contextual-real-life and the age of 12. And, as a lot of dreams do, it began with my dad.

I grew up hearing anecdotes above my head about the last frontier, 36' trollers, freezing days and sleepless nights in the back of an old pickup. He'd tell tales of grizzly encounters, people encounters, mother nature encounters - and as the years went by I couldn't help but imagine myself in such a place. It doesn't hurt, either, that my less-than-impressive dress and uncontrollable hair would probably fit in rather perfectly as well (or so I've been told*).

I'm rather unaware as to what exactly I'm getting myself into, but I'm dragging my best friend and partner (literally dragging**) along with me for the month of June.

Like on our three day round-trip excursion to Arizona and the Grand Canyon, we figured that if we could last roughly 18 hours in a car together, we could probably make it through anything. I laugh just thinking about it - the mere thought of now being restricted to a small vehicle for 7 days of 10 hour driving is surely going to be packed full of peace, love and joy - and I can't wait.

I don't know why I've felt so compelled to travel up north, let alone what's awaiting us. But there's something completely uninhibited - completely freeing about the idea of Alaska.

It's not just the concept of the final frontier, or roughing it, or even the chance at a potential Sarah Palin run-in. I think I've just been searching - searching for a place, well, to finally fit in. And granted, it'll only be a month, but for that one month I'll be with the man I love in a place I've always dreamed of living.

"Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

Here's to the future and the month of June, it's a good thing God's in control,

Court

* Several times.
** Note sarcasm.