 Share
 Print
 Save
 Become a Fan
Sikik Eegeesiak: An Update, 'The Long Dark', 2008
By Karen Lynn Vidra, The Texas Tornado
Friday, February 22, 2008
Rated "G" by the Author.
 |
|
Native Alaskan Sikik writes in her journal while staying holed up in her house in bitter-cold northern Alaska.
Friday, February 22, 2008, 'the Long Dark', Barrow, AK~
Dear Journal~
Sikik Grace Eegeesiak here.
Been a while since I wrote in here; sorry about that. Have been having horrible weather: hurricane-force winds at times, blowing snow or blinding blizzards, power outages, etc.--you know, typical wicked winter weather.
Haven't been able to get out--too much cold (highs in the sub readings with hurricane-force winds at times), snow banked up against the house, hard to get to town to get my groceries.
Such as the norm here in Barrow, Alaska, where I live. Those waters can get mighty mean, especially in the winter. Winds, too, making it seem even colder than what it already is.
Also dark until nine/ten in the morning, sun out for only a few hours before it turns night again; this is the period known as "the long dark" by us Inuit. So I don't stay up most days during the winter; too dark to do anything.
The last time I tried to write, I nearly set my house on fire. Knocked a candle over; candle scorched the table, one of the chairs. Got scared, beat out flames with my hand; suffered second degree burns on my hands from beating out the flames. Spent weeks recovering; they're still not quite healed.
(I know now I should have grabbed some snow to put out the flames; however I panicked, so I used the closest thing to me: my hands.
Stupid move, Sikik, very stupid move!!)
At least now I can do things; they don't hurt nearly as much; however, they're scarred, and they look ugly.
Serves me right trying to beat out the flames with my bare hands!
My brothers and sisters have been stopping by as I recover; they've been doing my chores for me. My MS and fibro giving me no end of trouble. Some days I can get around pretty good; others I am using my wheelchair to get by. Very frustrating disease, MS! I hate it!!
Have heard from Katrina Delchamps; she and Frank are doing good. I have been meaning to write back to them; I then had this accident, which set my writing back even further. I have at least 20 e-mails still waiting to be answered (mostly from Jenna in Anchorage, Jenny [my firend here], Louie Sandusky in Tennessee, and Katrina Delchamps in Fairbanks).
It's nuts!
If I hear "You've got mail" one more time, I'm gonna throw this darn computer out the window! ARRGGHH!!
It's only 1 in the morning here, soon to be two (in five minutes it'll be two o'clock). Couldn't sleep; hands itching too badly. It feels like millions of tiny pins and needles; it's about to drive me insane!!!
O, if I could only get some good night's sleep--I'd then be happy! Very happy!! I haven't had a good night's sleep since the accident!
Well, I'm getting stupid, so I am going to put this pitiful excuse for a journal entry to bed. I am going to go there myself; I need to get my rest!! Until later, Journal, this is Sikik signing out of here. Good night! *YAWN*
~Love, your Inuk friend, Sikik Grace Eegeesiak. :)
|
|
Want to review or comment on this
short story?
Click here to login!
Need a FREE Reader Membership?
Click here for your Membership!
|
|
| Reviewed by Susan de Vegter |
2/22/2008 |
|
Karen.
I'
m coming into this kind of late. Are these author's friends of yours in Alaska?
I can't imagine being holed up during their long winters but I'd love to go there in their summers.
Blessings and love,
Susan |
|
|
|
|
|
| Reviewed by Carole Mathys |
2/22/2008 |
|
Sounds like wicked weather, not my kind at all...give me the heat of the south.
love, Carole~ |
|
|
|
|
|
| Reviewed by Karla Dorman, The StormSpinner |
2/22/2008 |
|
Agree with Ed - I'd live in Alaska in a flash - but I don't think it would be the Long Dark that would bother me, it would be the cold - extreme cold - BRRRRRRRRR You know me - freeze at 40 degrees! LOL An excellent story, wondered where Sikik had been.
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla. :) |
|
|
|
|
|
| Reviewed by Mr. Ed |
2/22/2008 |
|
| Cheer Up! The Long Dark will soon become, The Long Light. And I would live in Alaska in a flash if my spouse could cope with that Long Dark. |
|
|
|
|
|
| Reviewed by Georg Mateos |
2/22/2008 |
|
Next time, God forbid it to happen again, I will suggest using snow to kill the fire, do you have snow in Northern Alaska? if not we can sent some from freezing Florida some times.
Georg |
|
|
|
|
|
Bookmarks
