Having Babies I woke up this morning, freezing, without Joe's body next to mine to keep me warm. He and Jamie left before the crack of dawn to go fishing in Haines Alaska. I got up and checked the temperature: -17! I went to make a fire, but there was no kindling, so with some resentment I pulled on my fleece pants and old coat and stomped outside to chop some wood.
As I'm welding the ax, I find myself muttering; questioning why in God's name I live here, since winter and I don't see eye to eye most of the time. Then it came to me that living in the Yukon is like having a baby: November through March is the heavy labour, when you're ready to tear a strip off anyone who comes too close. By April the baby's head is crowning, and in May you get that first look at new life. And just like when you see your baby for the first time, May fills you with wonder and awe at the miracle that you have somehow ended up amongst such stunning beauty.
By the time I came in from chopping wood, I had a smile on my face.
10:04:36 AM
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