The Carnival of Summer

Ahhhhhh, a picture of bliss, quiet and wonder. Here, my puppy Ginzee is absorbed in Alaska's summer beauty. The early morning sun gleams over the soaring mountains and warms our camp. The earth smells so good and the birds are chattering about. In this moment I love summer.

Did you just raise an eyebrow? Doesn't everyone love summer? Well, I happen to be the salmon swimming against the current.

Don't get me wrong, this photo is the ideal of what summer in Alaska is all about. But this photo doesn't show the chaos, the maniac, frenetic energy going on at sea level. Campers clog the roads. Drivers become drugged with sun and warmth and direct their cars as if they are singly on the road. Parking spots don't exist. Getting into your favorite breakfast, cafe and pizza joint is an impossibility. And the noise! This makes summer fall off my list of favorites.

It really becomes like a crazy carnival. People-watching becomes a 'train wreck' kind of experience. You watch people try to stuff their car into spaces that don't exist. The sidewalks are filled with hat-and-glove-bundled visitors while you stroll about in shorts. You see people carry trinkets that you didn't think anyone could POSSIBLY buy.

As an artist, summer is essential to my survival. I don't curse tourists or roll my eyes at their silly Alaska life questions. I know they support my livelihood. I remember being one myself a decade or so ago. I can smile and nod and laugh with them. Why? Soon the cold will descend, the flakes of frozen water will lilt down from the sky. The streets will clear, the cafes will offer my favorite tables, the noise will slowly dissipate. The pace slows, people invite you over for cozy dinners. Winter brings bliss, quiet and wonder.

THAT, is my favorite season.