Category: Published stories
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Still learning lessons from Ma
UNALAKLEET — He remembered a time she and I picked out music together. I imagine we were in front of her big, black stereo, weeding through her CDs. She had a lot of them. A song we picked was “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and he thought that was cool. “You and your mom were such good friends,” […]
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My brother does good things
August 19 was my brother’s birthday. He’s older and wiser and I couldn’t stand him growing up. He’s the top middle one in the photo, holding Ryder’s shoulders. The day of his birthday I woke up grateful. Later that night we celebrated with chili, pie, blueberry cream puffs and akuutaq. I love you, Fred Jay. Thank you for […]
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A Papa shows his love
He was a quiet man. Dignified. While his sinew was strong, his skin was wrinkled and soft. Dark. Smelled old somehow. His bones were bird-like, but solid and heavy to the ground. And he had the coolest middle name. Windsor. Aside from the fact that it’s a type of whiskey, the name fit him well. […]
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Saying goodbye to Gram
UNALAKLEET — I was 13 years old and beginning to think rubber boots were ugly. Maybe I should wear sneakers down the coast instead. When she was 13 years old, she quit school to raise four younger siblings. She thought about what to feed her brothers and sisters, and lighting the fire in the stove […]
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Warning: If you eat ugruk and read this, you might qugliaq
UNALAKLEET — Auntie Maggie was at the table, cutting meat that would later hang to dry. Larry was at the stove, cooking ugruk ribs, blubber and qiaq. “How are you folks?” I asked. “Hungry,” Maggie said sternly. Knowing her tone was a joke, we all replied with laughter. “I can’t cook the meat fast enough,” her husband […]
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Iditarod coverage: Heading to Unalakleet, Sass’ dogs get a jolt of energy to arrive first
UNALAKLEET — For the first time in this Iditarod, Eureka musher Brent Sass voluntarily elected to rest his team at a checkpoint late Saturday night. He stopped his 14-dog team in Unalakleet at 11:43 p.m. Saturday and collected his first Iditarod prize, the Wells Fargo Gold Coast Award. Until now, the longest Sass stayed in any checkpoint where […]
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Snow: A Love Letter
With Valentine’s Day coming up, I thought I’d share my latest sad satire piece. I will admit, I have said or written some of these phrases to past lovers and first husbands. While I truly and dearly love and miss snow, I howled with laughter while writing this because the feelings were so very real. […]
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How I’m healing – 10 years after her suicide
NOME — She was wonderful. She loved getting people together for food, laughs and stories. She got a kick out of being around those she loved, and her ebullience, smile and laugh made those around her feel good, valued and relaxed. We lived happy days with that woman. She made a perfect, flaky, tender pie […]
laureli ivanoff 