Well, this summer is soon coming to an end! It is kind-of a bittersweet ending! There are definately things that I am going to miss being up here! There is a Robert Service poem about the Spell of the Yukon. In fact, let me share it with you!
The Spell of the Yukon
I wanted the gold, and I sought it,
I scrabbled and mucked like a slave.
Was it famine or scurvy -- I fought it;
I hurled my youth into a grave.
I wanted the gold, and I got it --
Came out with a fortune last fall, --
Yet somehow life's not what I thought it,
And somehow the gold isn't all.
No! There's the land. (Have you seen it?)
It's the cussedest land that I know,
From the big, dizzy mountains that screen it
To the deep, deathlike valleys below.
Some say God was tired when He made it;
Some say it's a fine land to shun;
Maybe; but there's some as would trade it
For no land on earth -- and I'm one.
You come to get rich (damned good reason);
You feel like an exile at first;
You hate it like hell for a season,
And then you are worse than the worst.
It grips you like some kinds of sinning;
It twists you from foe to a friend;
It seems it's been since the beginning;
It seems it will be to the end.
I've stood in some mighty-mouthed hollow
That's plumb-full of hush to the brim;
I've watched the big, husky sun wallow
In crimson and gold, and grow dim,
Till the moon set the pearly peaks gleaming,
And the stars tumbled out, neck and crop;
And I've thought that I surely was dreaming,
With the peace o' the world piled on top.
The summer -- no sweeter was ever;
The sunshiny woods all athrill;
The grayling aleap in the river,
The bighorn asleep on the hill.
The strong life that never knows harness;
The wilds where the caribou call;
The freshness, the freedom, the farness --
O God! how I'm stuck on it all.
The winter! the brightness that blinds you,
The white land locked tight as a drum,
The cold fear that follows and finds you,
The silence that bludgeons you dumb.
The snows that are older than history,
The woods where the weird shadows slant;
The stillness, the moonlight, the mystery,
I've bade 'em good-by -- but I can't.
There's a land where the mountains are nameless,
And the rivers all run God knows where;
There are lives that are erring and aimless,
And deaths that just hang by a hair;
There are hardships that nobody reckons;
There are valleys unpeopled and still;
There's a land -- oh, it beckons and beckons,
And I want to go back -- and I will.
They're making my money diminish;
I'm sick of the taste of champagne.
Thank God! when I'm skinned to a finish
I'll pike to the Yukon again.
I'll fight -- and you bet it's no sham-fight;
It's hell! -- but I've been there before;
And it's better than this by a damsite --
So me for the Yukon once more.
There's gold, and it's haunting and haunting;
It's luring me on as of old;
Yet it isn't the gold that I'm wanting
So much as just finding the gold.
It's the great, big, broad land 'way up yonder,
It's the forests where silence has lease;
It's the beauty that thrills me with wonder,
It's the stillness that fills me with peace.
People here talk about how this poem states the truth for so many! They say that the Yukon has this spell it puts on you. One that makes you never want to leave. Finding a place so deep in your heart that you will always have a love for it here. They say that once you've lived here, you will always want to come back. The funny thing about this.... I believe it! There is something about being up here! The beauty grasps you and you are caught in it's spell! There's times where I love to just sit out on the porch at night and listen. You don't hear anything.. it's so quiet, peaceful, and you can almost hear God's hand at work! It's funny too, the people up here are so carefree! It's not like at home! Everyone is so nice and it's just kind-of understood that you work hard for your money! Crime doesn't really exist here! It's almost like I've taken a step back in time! It's these things that I'll miss. I definately plan on coming back up here next year! Whether I am in Dawson or doing tour directing, I must make it back here!
Despite my love for it up here, I am ready to come home! I'm ready to see my family and friends! I do have a lot of friends up here, but I miss my friends back home! It's so nice having friends who share your values and can help lift you up and encourage you to stay on the right path with their example! I can't wait to go to church! I have missed it so much! I miss walking into a house filled with the spirit too! There is only so much you can do up here to make your home that way, but when there are people who don't invite the spirit, it's hard! I'm looking forward to school as well! It's weird, but I really miss it! I think it's just because I love what I am going to school for! This semester is going to be fun too! I have 3 photography classes, so as it helps me with my degree, it will help me take better pictures for next year! I am also taking a mountain biking class! Paul told me that I needed to step out and do things that I never would do this summer. Well, I decided I needed to do that in life! So, I'm taking this in hope that I will like it! And, it's a good way to get in shape!!
Well, to give you updates for life up here in Dawson, I've just been working. We started running the boat doing mini day cruises. We take the groups about 12 miles down river and back. Makes for about a one and half ride. It's not much, but it's something and the guests are okay with it. We aren't making tips though. Oh well! But, in the last few days we haven't been doing the trips. The road keeps washing out up here and they are having a hard time keeping it open. I'm afraid that they are going to get it open the rest of the summer. It's making it really hard on Holland America! Guests are really starting to get upset! I've gotten to the point here that you just laugh! So, if I'm not working in the office I'm on the boat doing repairs. I'm calling this my resume builder summer! Lol! But, I've had some good experiences!
I have done a few more things this summer! I went on the Gold Feilds Jeep Tour with Humberto yesterday. Everyone is calling it a date, but I'm not. We had a blast!! Tons of pics! I'll try and get them up soon! Probably this week! I'm going to go shopping and to the museum today! Then, I'll probably go to Gerties and to Soul Sunday tonight as well! Discovery Days are coming up this weekend, so I'm really excited for that! I've heard it's one of the best things to be here for!
Well, I'm going to run off now! I'll probably have one more post before I leave, if not I will have the last one for the summer after I get home! For those of you who don't know when I am coming home, I leave Dawson City on the 19th. Not too sure how I'm getting to Fairbanks right now, but Captain Al is taking care of that! I'll stay a day in Fairbanks and then I'll be home the morning of the 21st! So, the count down begins! You can all start counting! Lol! Love you all so much! Can't wait to see you all! Until next time!
Loves!!! Xoxoxoxoxoxoxo!!
Amy Marie
