Christmas Eve, 1998 I got the surprise of a lifetime!
Photograph taken by author.

December 24th {Christmas Eve}, 1998 I had the surprise of a lifetime. We lived in Alaska. It was about 50-60 degrees below zero that day which was usual for that time of year with only about 3 hours of light each day. So needless to say, most of our Christmas shopping is done over the Internet or by catalog. Not to mention availability of items, there is only a few, very few, stores in our area and they are about 25 miles from our house.

I was on the phone with my sister who asked if we had received the packages she had sent us. I told her we hadn't as of yet. We then started talking about how I hadn't seen any moose around lately. I just adore moose, I don't know why but I think they are just the cutest, coolest of the animals here in Alaska. You usually see them everywhere. About that time my ex-husband Jim said it sounds like someone's at the door. "Honey can you get it? Their probably delivering your sisters package." So thinking it was the postman, UPS, or someone similar to that, I opened the door.

There I stood face to face with my Christmas moose. She was in the process of eating the wreath off our front door. I jumped back, slammed the door and yelled "Get the camera!! There's a moose at the door!" I opened the door and there she stood still at the door. That is the picture above. She then proceeded to try and eat the Christmas lights on our house and front trees. During this, she had gotten the Christmas lights around her neck. My ex-husband had to disconnect them so they would fall off. I guess that's what happens when nature and civilization meet. He finally lured her away by throwing some carrots in another area for her to eat.

My sister was still on the phone all this time, listening to the commotion. When I finally picked it up she said "Well, somebody must be listening. You said you wanted to see a moose. Well, Merry Christmas, someone delivered."