I'm going to be telling you all about Alaska at the same time I'm telling and learning myself. Sharing my trip and my feelings as I go. Penniwig is right. My mind is just spinning and I'm trying to put it down on paper - but I find my brain is still full of fog!
So to begin with I looked up the state symbols.
State symbolsState Motto: North to the Future
Nicknames: "The Last Frontier" or "Land of the Midnight Sun" or "Seward's Icebox"
State bird: Willow Ptarmigan, adopted by the Territorial Legislature in 1955. It is a small (15-17 inches) Arctic grouse that lives among willows and on open tundra and muskeg. Plumage is brown in summer, changing to white in winter. The Willow Ptarmigan is common in much of Alaska.
State fish: King Salmon, adopted 1962.
State flower: wild/native Forget-Me-Not, adopted by the Territorial Legislature in 1917.[71] It is a perennial that is found throughout Alaska, from Hyder to the Arctic Coast, and west to the Aleutians.
State fossil: Woolly Mammoth, adopted 1986.
State gem: Jade, adopted 1968.
State insect: Four-spot skimmer dragonfly, adopted 1995.
State land mammal: Moose, adopted 1998.
State marine mammal: Bowhead Whale, adopted 1983.
State mineral: Gold, adopted 1968.
State song: "Alaska's Flag"
State sport: Dog Mushing, adopted 1972.
State tree: Sitka Spruce, adopted 1962.
State soil: Estelle, adopted unknown.
Now I saw the Ptarmigan - the state bird, salmon, the Forget Me Not (in fact I took one home with me), and 2 Moose - yes I had a hard time finding them and was just beginning to think it was a hoax to get visitors there, but finally, I did see two moose the last couple of days. :)
Rose and Barb
Two 90-year-old women, Rose and Barb had been friends all of their lives.
When it was clear that Rose was dying, Barb visited her every day.
One day Barb said, 'Rose, we both loved playing women's softball all our lives, and we played all through High School. Please do me one favor: 'when you get to Heaven, somehow you must let me know if there is women's softball there.'
Rose looked up at Barb from her deathbed and said, 'Barb, you've been my best friend for many years. If it's at all possible, I'll do this favor for you.'
Shortly after that, Rose passed on.
A few nights later, Barb was awakened from a sound sleep by a blinding flash of white light and a voice calling out to her, 'Barb, Barb.'
'Who is it?', asked Barb, sitting up suddenly. 'Who is it?'
'Barb -- it's me, Rose.'
'You're not Rose. Rose just died..'
'I'm telling you, it's me, Rose,' insisted the voice.
'Rose! Where are you?'
'In Heaven,' replied Rose. 'I have some really good news and a little bad news.'
'Tell me the good news first,' said Barb.
'The good news,' Rose said, 'is that there's softball in Heaven. Better yet all of our old buddies who died before us are here, too... Better than that, we're all young again. Better still, it's always springtime, and it never rains or snows. And best of all, we can play softball all we want, and we never get tired.'
'That's fantastic,' said Barb. 'It's beyond my wildest dreams! So what's the bad news?'
'You're pitching Tuesday.'
Life is uncertain - eat dessert first.
Hymns For The Professions
The Massage Therapists Hymn...He Touched Me
The Dentist's Hymn.......................Crown Him with Many Crowns
The Weatherman's Hymn............There Shall Be Showers of Blessings
The Contractor's Hymn................The Church's One Foundation
The Tailor's Hymn.........................Holy, Holy, Holy
The Golfer's Hymn........................There's a Green Hill Far Away
The Politician's Hymn..................Standing on the Promises
The Optometrist's Hymn..............Open My Eyes That I Might See
The IRS Agent's Hymn................I Surrender All
The Gossip's Hymn......................Pass It On
The Electrician's Hymn...............Send The Light
The Shopper's Hymn..................Sweet Bye and Bye
The Realtor's Hymn.....................I've Got a Mansion
The Doctor's Hymn......................The Great Physician
The Husband's Hymn.................Oh Why Not Tonight
AND for those who speed on the highway - a few hymns:
45mph............................God Will Take Care of You
65mph............................Nearer My God To Thee
85mph............................This World Is Not My Home
95mph............................Lord, I'm Coming Home
100mph..........................Precious Memories
The World's Oldest Showgirl
http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourworld/articles/Dorothy_Dale_Kloss_Oldest_Showgirl_in_the_World.html
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GRANDMA LEARNS TO E-MAIL
I am very happy in the new residence you have put me in. This week we actually got to go outside for an hour.
I haven't been feeling very good this week - the friend I shared a room with died yesterday. I am coping pretty well with my sorrows. It's been six months since you've visited me last, I guess you're all pretty busy. It's OK, I've learned to use the Internet to pass the time. And the computer in the rec room has a pretty decent web cam.
So you can remember what I look like, look below. I have attached a recent picture of myself. You all take care, and write to me soon.
With all of my heart.
Love, Grandma
Love, Chatty (grandma's are cute aren't we?)
2 comments:
I love the softball story - that is the best! The visitor center in Alaska is so pretty! If I'd had known you were going there, I'd have asked you to pick me up a moose item - I collect moose statues and carvings, pictures, stuffed animals! BOOOO!
Sorry, I really thought I told you.
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