alaska = fish

Mark loves to fish.  Specifically, fly fish.  So a year and a half ago, when he told me he'd like to go to Alaska with his dad, and some friends and their dads, I was excited for him, but a little nervous.
A)  Fishing in Alaska means getting on a small plane and landing in the middle of nowhere.
B) I was very newly pregnant and selfishly, I didn't want him to leave me alone with our newborn babe.  After all, who would get up early with the baby, when I was too tired?  (Always.)
C)  It would be 8 long days.

But plans were made and excitement was already building.  And I was happy for him.

And then we found out we were having twins.

Um, I REALLY did not want to think about 8 days alone with 2 babies.

But there was no turning back.  Significant sums of money were already deposited with the lodge and Mark was beyond excited.  And I wouldn't really keep him from realizing this lifelong dream.

So last week was go-time.  Mark left early Saturday morning, new fishing shirts and mosquito head-nets carefully packed.  After 3 connecting flights, including one scary (to me) small plane that landed in the middle of Nowhere, Alaska, the fishing expedition began.  With no cell phone coverage available, he called daily from a landline at the lodge.  Short and sweet, as his fellow fishermen were waiting to call home too, his reports were impressive - tons of fish, big ones at that, and beautifully cold scenery.

I missed him.  He missed me too.  It's nice to be missed.  And it turns out I can do hard things like take care of twins in the wee hours of the morning and get the other four where they need to be - with lots of carpooling and grandmotherly help.  I didn't like having him gone, but I am glad he got to fish in the coveted Alaska waters.

This fish looks impressive, even to me.  Probably Salmon (because that's what's in our freezer now), but I don't actually know for sure.

Mark explained this fish is red because it was spawning and about to die.  These ones get thrown back.

Mark and his dad.

Abandoned shacks by the river.  Can you imagine living there?  I guess if you really like to fish...

Beautiful sunrise.

The lodge.

At one point, before the trip, Mark suggested that I would enjoy a trip like this.  I assured him it's not my thing [even though I DID take a fly fishing lesson with my college friend, Jen].  He was certain I would have fun. 

Upon returning from Alaska, Mark agreed that this sort of thing would NOT be MY thing, nor any other woman's thing.  Think: freezing cold even with tons of layers, swarms of tiny bugs up your nose and in your mouth all day, less than modern lodging.   But fortunately, for Mark, all of those things were secondary to the success he had on the rivers and lakes in remote Alaska, so this trip was a happy, rewarding experience for him.