One last day

The year has come to a close already--I can't believe it. There are 2 small plane companies that service Noatak on a daily basis and I usually make my reservations on-line, just because it is easier. On the morning of the flight, we have to call the agent from Noatak to confirm our seat and give her our weight and baggage weight. WELL, this morning I called her to confirm and she said, "They don't have you on the flight. You'll have to fly standby; you're 4th on the list." (Fourth is pretty far down there considering the plane MIGHT hold 8 people.)

OH BOY! What was I going to do??? I had to catch the 3:00 jet out of Kotzebue, so I HAD to be on the morning flight. In a panicked state, I called down to the main office in Kotz and explained my dilemma: I made my reservation a week ago, they said they don't have my name down, and I need to get to Kotz before 3:00 to catch the jet. They got the boss on the phone and I went through the whole speal again. Well, it just so turns out that "the workers were using the computer too often in the last week and the lady did not have a chance to check the on-line reservations." There was a plane coming back from another village, so they just rerouted it through Noatak to pick me and the other "standby-ers" up. I did make it to Kotz on time to begin my 36 hour journey "home."

Moral of the story: Call to make reservations to and from the villages!

I feel good about returning to Noatak. The last night in town, Stan and Dorris invited me, Alision, Kyle, and Timm up for dinner. We ate fish and baked goose, played cards, and went for a nice walk along the river (which won't be possible in a couple of weeks once break up happens!). While I was there, an elder that I have become close to over the last nine months called me. "You're leaving tomorrow I hear? Well, I have a gift for you."

"What? A gift for me?!?! What in the world did you get me?"

"I caught you a goose to take back to Michigan and bake for your family."

Awww...How sweet :) (I coaxed him into holding onto the goose until Brett and I return to AK in the fall.)

I will add a picture later of all the people that came to say good bye at the airport. It was so sweet. A few students and high school girls (who hadn't gone to sleep yet--because 11 am is WAY too early to wake up), fellow staff members, and community friends drove to the airport armed with hugs and well wishes. I love the close-knit community we have here :)