Recently I took a trip to Alaska to meet Sarah Palin.  I was invited by a friend, Bob Cornuke and the Highflight foundation to join them in presenting the Alaskan flag that went to the moon with astronaut Jim Irwin.  The presentation was to be made to Governor Palin at the Governor’s Prayer Breakfast in Anchorage.  Jim’s daughters, Joy and Jill, are continuing their father’s legacy of reaching out around the world as goodwill ambassadors by presenting as gifts some of the flags Irwin took to the moon.  The list includes Anwar Sedat, Golda Meir, King Hussein of Jordon and many others.

Mt Redoubt had other ideas.  Five of us met up in Seattle and were then in waiting mode for the volcano to mellow out and let us in.  After 24 hours, we finally made it to Anchorage, but unfortunately the Governor did not.  We attended the breakfast and presented the flag to the Lt. Governor, Sean Parnell.  We met her whole charming family, but Sarah was grounded in Juneau.

The people we met in Alaska were warm and very hospitable.  They made our journey a memorable adventure.  After the breakfast, donned with a mask provided by the hotel, I went fur shopping and sightseeing.  Alaska looks like another planet. I’ve traveled a lot, but this is truly the last frontier.  I have never been stranded on a trip before where the options to go home consisted of a 3 day road trip on a partly gravel road to Canada (but, oops, none of us had our passports), or a ferry ride that left a week later and was on the sea 2,400 km to the lower 48.  We considered we might be moving in.

I was able to get out during a small window of ash less sky.  But Bob, being the persistent guy he is, just had to accomplish the mission.  He and Joy stayed behind several days and finally made their way to Juneau where Governor Palin graciously agreed to meet with them.  They re-presented the flag to her and told her of our story to fight the elements to meet her.  She signed a picture and sent it to me via Joy.  Maybe I will have the opportunity to meet her again someday.

 At the breakfast, I gave a copy of my book, “Giigle” to her daughter, Willow, to pass on to her mom.  I thought she could probably use a good laugh about now