Wedding Flower Display

Just the mention of Alaska to some people almost immediately precipitates thoughts of ice, snow, wild animals, isolation and relentless harsh cold winter conditions. And although Alaska does have the other seasons as well however short lived like fall, spring and summer arrayed with a multitude of spectacular flowers to gaze upon and a variety of berries and vegetables to pick from and enjoy, to many people Alaska just equals cold. Brrr.. Some first impressions are just hard to chase away.

For others, those who call Alaska home, the true Alaskans you might call them, the challenges that come with the mysterious Alaskan territory are just a part of the enticement and lure of the Last Frontier. Just like love with its broad range of ups and downs and twists and turns, Alaska also has its own idiosyncrasies and a distinctive price of its own to be loved, lived in and enjoyed.

The price of course is the uncertainty, the variant cold, the breathtaking yet perilous wilderness and the shocking barrenness in unexpected places. It's also the differences in how and when things grow and mature, or whether a thing will grow at all. And it's the people. Oh yes, it's also the Alaskan people themselves. Alaska was мейд just for them so one can't very well leave them out of the picture. They too are different. Even those who are destined to later become Alaskans are different. Ironically, Alaska seems to have called them to her.

Alaskans - they are all from a different but indispensable breed of people, one long forgotten. You might even go so far as to say that Alaskans are a last best hope for any nation- a remnant reminder of what good men and women of honor and integrity from any nation look like when living under duress and hardship. Alaskans are like the end result of refined gold or silver. The many hardships and trials that the Great Land of Alaska serves up seems to purify and refine a people, any people and it makes this particular breed of people overcome, stand out, excel and shine in splendor giving glory and honor to the God who created them.

Alaskans are a strong, sturdy and hardy strain of good people. Although they appear to have strange and peculiar ways, they are a type of people you used to read about- the type of people your grandparents told stories about during family gatherings at picnics and campfires. Those were the stories you wanted to hear over and over again. Those are the stories we all stop and listen to. Stories about mysterious brave men and women who did what others were too afraid to do, went places others were too afraid to go and tried new things against all odds and endured through hardship after hardship. Stories about a stubborn people who refused to let life dictate to them or beat them down. These strange people took what life had to offer and мейд it better. They мейд it their own and also opened their arms to share with all. All of this is and more is Alaska.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to