Alaska
When I woke up in the morning light, I saw the snow capped mountains and pencil straight trees along the white banks of Alaska. Our ship rocked a little bit in the waves, our cabin like a cradle, I could sleep more. But, no, I wanted to catch the golden sunshine on shore, before the harbor city was burst with people. Salmons return to motherland. There is nothing more tragic than their struggle to keep the cycle of life. They swarmed at the entrance to the rivers, still a long long way from home. Whales came in the dusk of night, 5 of them, quickly merged into the darkness. Only one night I got a glimpse of them. Never again. But in my mind I would picture them swimming in the waters, not far away, and I would not feel lonely. At night, the waves are silver white against the dark blue. On foggy days, fog horns blew regularly, echoed by another ship hidden in the fog. The best time was to sit by the window, absorbing the serene beauty of Alaska. I never got to finish a book. My...