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Juneau Alaska(AK) Bound!
This port forebodes an excitement, life changing, pulsing and even beckoning us to step up and open our minds. Aunt Cindy (Aunt to a friend of Mistress) met us at the dock and we were whisked immediately out to the Mendenhall Glacier. This clump of ice is a source of hydro electricity and of course a great tourists beacon. Photographs have been snapped at the look out (or should I call it an over- look ). Back into the car and we traversed some bush roads hoping to the wildlife and spotted numerous bald eagles perched atop of lamp posts.
The magnificence of this wilderness is untamed and a constant reminder of the harshness of life in the early frontier days. We strolled around the local Museum to gather information about the region and to gain some sort of perspective of the early settlers.
As the night fell over this quaint locale Aunt Cindy took us along to a local gathering. A group had formed to support those people who are carers of family or friends who are mentally ill. The group is National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI). NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of persons living with serious mental illness and their families. Founded in 1979, NAMI has become the nation’s voice on mental illness, a national organization including NAMI organizations in every state and in over 1100 local communities across the country (USA) who join together to meet the NAMI mission through advocacy, research, support, and education. Their mission is dedicated to the eradication of mental illnesses and to the improvement of the quality of life of all whose lives are affected by these diseases. And dedicated NAMI members, leaders, and friends work tirelessly across all levels to meet a shared NAMI mission of support, education, advocacy, and research for people living with mental illness through various activities (please note that part of the proceeds of this book will be donated to this worthwhile and important organization).
The meeting was flush with a variety of food plates - the locals called it a "potluck". People brought in varied Alaskan dishes and some pizzas too. There was more than enough food to feed a small army or at least lots of starving people in this area. While I was perched on a small chair I noticed "Tent cards" on each table with biographies of famous people who had suffered with mental illness. We were listening to lots of speeches followed by boisterous clapping and teary acceptances. These people are open hearted and kind and my Mistress is committed to do what she can to raise awareness and support for this organization.
After the smorgasbord there was a quick cuppa at Aunt Cindy’s place. We heard the tale of her being chased by a bear and how it had been reported in the media. Apparently, a newspaper in New Zealand contacted her for an interview - our tour guide is a celebrity! After a South African herbal tea we jump into the 4 wheel drive and head back to the ship. What an adventure! The scenery, the culture, the people. . . . a truly magical day!
Before we head out of Juneau, headed for Glacier Bay I believe, let me explain last month's pictorial. Some people may have got it into their heads that I called the ship a bad name! Not from my zipper at all !! Ships of the Holland America Line are named after places in the Netherlands - Rotterdam, Zuiderdam, Amsterdam, Potsdam etc and HAL refers to them as the "Dam ships" not damn ships!!!
This port forebodes an excitement, life changing, pulsing and even beckoning us to step up and open our minds. Aunt Cindy (Aunt to a friend of Mistress) met us at the dock and we were whisked immediately out to the Mendenhall Glacier. This clump of ice is a source of hydro electricity and of course a great tourists beacon. Photographs have been snapped at the look out (or should I call it an over- look ). Back into the car and we traversed some bush roads hoping to the wildlife and spotted numerous bald eagles perched atop of lamp posts.
The magnificence of this wilderness is untamed and a constant reminder of the harshness of life in the early frontier days. We strolled around the local Museum to gather information about the region and to gain some sort of perspective of the early settlers.
As the night fell over this quaint locale Aunt Cindy took us along to a local gathering. A group had formed to support those people who are carers of family or friends who are mentally ill. The group is National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI). NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of persons living with serious mental illness and their families. Founded in 1979, NAMI has become the nation’s voice on mental illness, a national organization including NAMI organizations in every state and in over 1100 local communities across the country (USA) who join together to meet the NAMI mission through advocacy, research, support, and education. Their mission is dedicated to the eradication of mental illnesses and to the improvement of the quality of life of all whose lives are affected by these diseases. And dedicated NAMI members, leaders, and friends work tirelessly across all levels to meet a shared NAMI mission of support, education, advocacy, and research for people living with mental illness through various activities (please note that part of the proceeds of this book will be donated to this worthwhile and important organization).
The meeting was flush with a variety of food plates - the locals called it a "potluck". People brought in varied Alaskan dishes and some pizzas too. There was more than enough food to feed a small army or at least lots of starving people in this area. While I was perched on a small chair I noticed "Tent cards" on each table with biographies of famous people who had suffered with mental illness. We were listening to lots of speeches followed by boisterous clapping and teary acceptances. These people are open hearted and kind and my Mistress is committed to do what she can to raise awareness and support for this organization.
After the smorgasbord there was a quick cuppa at Aunt Cindy’s place. We heard the tale of her being chased by a bear and how it had been reported in the media. Apparently, a newspaper in New Zealand contacted her for an interview - our tour guide is a celebrity! After a South African herbal tea we jump into the 4 wheel drive and head back to the ship. What an adventure! The scenery, the culture, the people. . . . a truly magical day!
Before we head out of Juneau, headed for Glacier Bay I believe, let me explain last month's pictorial. Some people may have got it into their heads that I called the ship a bad name! Not from my zipper at all !! Ships of the Holland America Line are named after places in the Netherlands - Rotterdam, Zuiderdam, Amsterdam, Potsdam etc and HAL refers to them as the "Dam ships" not damn ships!!!