The breakfast that followed my breakfast

When I came home from Abby's, I found Lynx up and eating breakfast himself. No more pictures before my afternoon coffee break... I think.

The current debate. - what will the outcome be?

I'm debating on whether to have breakfast here right now, or to wait until Lynx gets up and take him to Abby's.

A kiss from a distance…

Lavina contacted Lynx via Skype tonight. Her Internet connection in McGrath was very weak and we could not hear a word she said. Her image came across as still photographs, about one per second, all transmitted in silence."Hi! Hi!" Lynx greeted her image repeatedly, alternating with "Oh-oh! Oh-oh!" He understood her smooches perfectly and returned them.

Later, Lavina told me by email she could not only see, but hear every word Lynx said to her. I'm sure glad Lynx didn't utter any cuss words. His mother would have thought hIs grandpa was being a bad influence on him.

Interruption on the bank of the Little Susitna River

I drove away from the Grotto and then decided I wanted to post the previous entry before I returned home. The bridge at the Little Su seemed like a good place to do so, but there were a couple of cars in the tiny downstream parking lot where I would normally pull off. I wanted to be alone with just Lynx, my thoughts, and my iPhone. On the upstream side of the bridge, there is a turnoff with a gravel road that leads to a private gate about 50 yards away. I pulled to the side of the road, well short of that gate and started to work on my post. I had not gotten far when I was startled to hear a knock on my window. I turned to see this gentleman, Alaska State Trooper Lindberg. He informed me I had parked on private property. I had to leave.

He was pleasant, professional, polite and respectful and was only doing his job. Still, it is a bit of a jarring thing to have your head into the middle of something and to be interrupted in such a manner. I suggested to him that next time he spoke with the property owner, he might suggest he post some "no trespassing signs" near the bridge. He told me I would be welcome to contribute to a fund to help the owner do just that, as he had put up many such signs only to have them torn down and stolen. This, I did not doubt. Even the bullet-ridden place signs on the bridge have disappeared.

He said he frequently finds people down here doing drugs, some of them with needles hanging out their necks. He said he had saved some lives, right here. I did not enjoy the experience at all, but damn - as beautiful and serene as is the setting my little community sits in, it does have a very dark fringe. Officer Lindberg's job can sometimes become most dangerous.

He absolutely did not need to stop the yellow car coming down Schrock Road so that I could pull out, but, as embarrassing as this unnecessary action was, I will give him the benefit of the doubt.

The way things are at this moment

For the moment, all is good. Margie is back home a day early, Lynx radiates his brightness and light all about the house and Jim, the good black cat, watches over all.