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In My Small Town in Alaska, I Miss Small-Town Life In My Small Town in Alaska, I Miss Small-Town Life
(about 11 hours later)
HAINES, Alaska — When I first saw the big electronic sign at the corner by the school and Mountain Market flashing “Stay Home” and “Save Lives,” it was like a warning light for my heart. When a refrigerated shipping container was placed behind the fire hall to serve as a temporary morgue (our regular one can hold only two people), I felt I couldn’t breathe. The fire chief said he didn’t mean to frighten anyone.HAINES, Alaska — When I first saw the big electronic sign at the corner by the school and Mountain Market flashing “Stay Home” and “Save Lives,” it was like a warning light for my heart. When a refrigerated shipping container was placed behind the fire hall to serve as a temporary morgue (our regular one can hold only two people), I felt I couldn’t breathe. The fire chief said he didn’t mean to frighten anyone.
In this small coastal town (pop. 2,500) where I have lived for more than 35 years, I have been hunkered down at home since March 18. So has everyone else here. No school, no sitting in bars or coffee shops, no church services. You know the drill.In this small coastal town (pop. 2,500) where I have lived for more than 35 years, I have been hunkered down at home since March 18. So has everyone else here. No school, no sitting in bars or coffee shops, no church services. You know the drill.
Haines is in southeast Alaska, on a fjord at the top of the Inside Passage, about 1,000 miles north of Seattle and about 70 miles north of Juneau. Most trips south mean a ferry ride or small-plane flight to Juneau, and then a jet to Seattle and points beyond.Haines is in southeast Alaska, on a fjord at the top of the Inside Passage, about 1,000 miles north of Seattle and about 70 miles north of Juneau. Most trips south mean a ferry ride or small-plane flight to Juneau, and then a jet to Seattle and points beyond.
So when the coronavirus hit Seattle hard and early, mayors in this part of Alaska shut things down, and the governor acted swiftly, too. Haines has a mandatory two-week quarantine for anyone coming to town and does not have any confirmed Covid-19 cases. In Juneau, there are about 27 confirmed cases. Sitka just reported its first.So when the coronavirus hit Seattle hard and early, mayors in this part of Alaska shut things down, and the governor acted swiftly, too. Haines has a mandatory two-week quarantine for anyone coming to town and does not have any confirmed Covid-19 cases. In Juneau, there are about 27 confirmed cases. Sitka just reported its first.
There was a time not too long ago when I would choose not to go to the grocery store or the brewery because I did not want to run into certain people. Back then, I sometimes wished we didn’t all care quite so much about our community.There was a time not too long ago when I would choose not to go to the grocery store or the brewery because I did not want to run into certain people. Back then, I sometimes wished we didn’t all care quite so much about our community.
I served as a member of the Borough Assembly (I finished my three-year term in the fall), and I would dodge the fellow with the pocket Constitution who thought everything the police chief did was illegal, and avoid the earnest friend who wanted to talk about why my proposed ban on plastic shopping bags did not go far enough — that we needed to ban all plastics in Haines. Then there was the pickup truck with the plywood sign calling for my recall; it seemed to be parked everywhere I wanted to go.I served as a member of the Borough Assembly (I finished my three-year term in the fall), and I would dodge the fellow with the pocket Constitution who thought everything the police chief did was illegal, and avoid the earnest friend who wanted to talk about why my proposed ban on plastic shopping bags did not go far enough — that we needed to ban all plastics in Haines. Then there was the pickup truck with the plywood sign calling for my recall; it seemed to be parked everywhere I wanted to go.
These days I know I’m lucky to live in a town so engaged with our collective well-being. Haines is taking social distancing seriously.These days I know I’m lucky to live in a town so engaged with our collective well-being. Haines is taking social distancing seriously.
Before all this, when I was feeling too isolated, the way I do now, all I had to do was go to the library or buy some cheese at the market and I’d end up having a meaningful conversation with someone. We might begin by talking about a dirty outhouse at a local campground or a proposed tax on tobacco, but soon enough the conversation would slide into life and death and what it all means.Before all this, when I was feeling too isolated, the way I do now, all I had to do was go to the library or buy some cheese at the market and I’d end up having a meaningful conversation with someone. We might begin by talking about a dirty outhouse at a local campground or a proposed tax on tobacco, but soon enough the conversation would slide into life and death and what it all means.
This happened more than you think, since I write obituaries for The Chilkat Valley News, our local weekly. I’ve written about 500 of them, which connects me to people in an odd way.This happened more than you think, since I write obituaries for The Chilkat Valley News, our local weekly. I’ve written about 500 of them, which connects me to people in an odd way.
This is the time of year when residents may try to fire a police officer or recall an elected official. I survived my own recall season, but the experience was a big part of why I didn’t run again.This is the time of year when residents may try to fire a police officer or recall an elected official. I survived my own recall season, but the experience was a big part of why I didn’t run again.
Now I wish that I had run. I miss being able to help guide my town through this crisis. I even miss seeing the leader of the recall effort against me in the front row at meetings, arms crossed, shaking his head at me. The other day, we both “liked” the same post on a Haines community Facebook page. Who knew?Now I wish that I had run. I miss being able to help guide my town through this crisis. I even miss seeing the leader of the recall effort against me in the front row at meetings, arms crossed, shaking his head at me. The other day, we both “liked” the same post on a Haines community Facebook page. Who knew?
It is safe to say that whatever our political differences, everyone here is worried about our town’s future. On Friday the state lifted the requirement to stay at home and loosened restrictions on social gatherings, but so much remains uncertain. Can our art galleries, bed-and-breakfasts and family-owned stores survive a summer without tourists? Will seasonal construction workers come this year, and if so, will they bring the virus with them?It is safe to say that whatever our political differences, everyone here is worried about our town’s future. On Friday the state lifted the requirement to stay at home and loosened restrictions on social gatherings, but so much remains uncertain. Can our art galleries, bed-and-breakfasts and family-owned stores survive a summer without tourists? Will seasonal construction workers come this year, and if so, will they bring the virus with them?
Oil revenue is the main component of Alaska’s budget and pays for much of our public services, and now the price of oil has crashed. A barrel of oil cost less than a gallon of milk last week. Even the Alaska Permanent Fund, which generates annual dividends for all residents, could be in trouble, because its health depends on the health of the stock market.Oil revenue is the main component of Alaska’s budget and pays for much of our public services, and now the price of oil has crashed. A barrel of oil cost less than a gallon of milk last week. Even the Alaska Permanent Fund, which generates annual dividends for all residents, could be in trouble, because its health depends on the health of the stock market.
It’s as if our community has been hit by a truck.It’s as if our community has been hit by a truck.
Fifteen years ago, I was hit by a truck. Members of the Haines volunteer ambulance crew and staff members at our Alaska Native-owned clinic saved my life.Fifteen years ago, I was hit by a truck. Members of the Haines volunteer ambulance crew and staff members at our Alaska Native-owned clinic saved my life.
I am a different person because of that near-death experience, and especially because of the tender care I received, not only from those emergency medical workers, but also from my neighbors in Haines and from strangers in a Seattle hospital and nursing home where I was sent to recover. I am kinder now. I cry easier and laugh more.I am a different person because of that near-death experience, and especially because of the tender care I received, not only from those emergency medical workers, but also from my neighbors in Haines and from strangers in a Seattle hospital and nursing home where I was sent to recover. I am kinder now. I cry easier and laugh more.
I was never much of a hugger before, and wouldn’t you know it, now that I am, and there are so many people in this town that I’d like to embrace, I can’t. But I can wait. I hope everybody else can, too.I was never much of a hugger before, and wouldn’t you know it, now that I am, and there are so many people in this town that I’d like to embrace, I can’t. But I can wait. I hope everybody else can, too.
Heather Lende is the author, most recently, of the forthcoming “Of Bears and Ballots: An Alaskan Adventure in Small-Town Politics.” Heather Lende is the author of the forthcoming “Of Bears and Ballots: An Alaskan Adventure in Small-Town Politics.”
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