Jerrold is holding mine as well as his - he didn't really have the courage to eat two!
I think if Jack London and Norman Rockwell got together to design a holiday, Independence Day in Kotzebue might be it. A strange hybrid of Saturday Evening Post quaintness and dead animal skins.
Suddenly everyone was up and out in the morning. Kids were running around and riding bikes. The volunteer fire department had ice cream in unlikely colors.
Suddenly everyone was up and out in the morning. Kids were running around and riding bikes. The volunteer fire department had ice cream in unlikely colors.
It's a parade!
Every firetruck in town was in the parade, as well as several boats, many 4-wheelers and even an airplane. Many of the "floats" were in sponsorship of a Miss Arctic Circle and/or Miss Teen Arctic Circle contestant. We accidentally ran into the talent portion of the competition on July 3rd when we went to check out the school and stayed for the Beautiful Baby Contest in the lunch room. There was singing, native dancing, and even a fish drying demonstration. I got to eat some, but I am not so sure I'd like it to be my only protein source.
Miss Arctic Circle! (The pretty one in the parka - not the guy in camo)
After the Miss Arctic Circle contest was the lip sync contest. Entries were mostly kids ranging from about 6 years old to high school. We went for a walk after the first 16. There must have been thirty of them! We also enjoyed the animal call contest, but we were disappointed that the muktuk (whale blubber) was misplaced and the eating contest canceled.
Our time here was filled with new experiences, nice air, snug housing, and a lot of wind. I have my first post office box and a new - very sweet - library card! On our last day in Kotz, as I was walking home from the post office, an elder I recognized from the Fourth of July offered me a ride on his 4-wheeler! It felt so fine, as though I might belong.
Stay tuned for my moving in adventures!
Stay tuned for my moving in adventures!