Wilderness Blues- Ramblings from the Great Land

  This past Tuesday, the 26th of March,2019, Jan and I were invited to attend a most unconventional wedding for two very good friends. I don't mean that it was unconventional in a bad way, it was just different. The only tuxedo in the room was worn by the bride's dog, Robinau. I'm not quite sure how to spell his name. Sarah, the bride, says that his name means radish in Spanish. I've never bothered to ask why radish. Why not green pepper or tomato or pickled beet. However, radish is his name, and it seems to fit. He's a very pleasant dog, and he was on his best behavior while his owners were exchanging their vows. Now about the vows... they weren't what you would ordinarily find in a wedding either. In fact those of us who were invited actually came up with some of the wording. I know this sounds a little unusual, and it was, but the vows came out of a book of Mad Libs. It's a book that has pages that are making a statement with bla

For an isolated fishing village in Southeast Alaska, Hoonah has attracted quite a number of people down through the years. In the forty three years I've lived here I've seen a pretty diverse group. Some have come to give, some to take and some to try and hide out. There has been no shortage of transient folks, people who've come to take jobs at the cold storage or on fishing boats and in recent years filling the jobs at the cannery in the tourist industry. Once in blue moon we are graced with an individual of uncommon talent, such as the young lady pictured above. Her name is Christina Baal and she's a professional artist. She has a strong interest in birds and a desire to paint all ten thousand species. I hope that she lives long enough to see her passion fulfilled. I first saw an exhibit of her talent when I was working in the Forest Service building. The top photo of the Sockeye Salmon shows an example of her work. I was immediately drawn to it, in

This sign is hanging on the wall in our church. I see it every Sunday, but much like looking at the scenery around me, I don't give it a lot of thought. I should though. It's a powerful message. I'm sorry that the picture didn't come out so good. Today was sunny and the light coming from the window was reflected on the poster. The scripture is 2 Peter 3:9-What it says on the poster is - The Lord is not willing that any should perish. The whole scripture,starting at 2 Peter 3:8 is- Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice. With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise, as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but for all to come to repentance. Thank God for his patience. If he were anything like me, the judgment would have come down mightily a long time ago, after I had been saved of course. I'm often amazed at myself, how judgm