Thanks Boys

I have been blessed enough to enjoy living not only in such a geographically gorgeous city, like Juneau---but within this tiny Alaska capitol I have discovered a group of people whom my love for could only be rivaled by my blood family.

The last 10 months in Juneau have been the most rewarding of my 24 years on this planet. I have been through some rough times, but the gleaming moments of happiness and elation couldn't be touched by the times where I felt homesick and lonesome for Seattle, my friends there, and my family. Now that the light is returning to the mountains towering above me and the mornings are brighter, I can feel an easing relaxation. Money, material things, and minor setbacks seem so insignificant in constrast to the swell of contententment I feel in my current situation. It's funny that it took a recent series of events to really bring these positive feelings out, from wherever they were hiding.

Last weekend I met two people who had the power to make an entire community come toegther for 3 days of music, laughter, and fun than ran into the wee hours of Sunday morning. I watched an entire room full of people almost compelled by an electric shock, dance, sing, and smile like we were all under a spell of sorts. This all sounds very dramatic and over the top...yet it happened. And it was excactly what I needed to bring myself back to the person who had the courage to get up and seek this lfestyle on my own last summer.

This blog post is just something I needed to get down, maybe for posterity, maybe in the hopes that Nate and Ike will read this and know how much their visit meant to me at that time in my life. Their kindness and genuine love for life and music, made me realize that, yes, it can be this good if you surround youself with amazing people, and focus on the things that make you happy.

Last night I played an open mic set with 3 of my best friends, with my other Juneau family watching from around the bar. I sang a song I wrote in the darkest and lonliest time of my life this last fall. I had only played it for the people closest to me, and somehow singing it out to the 65 people in the bar felt so right and so theraputic. If it wasn't for Ike and Nate, and their positive feedback to my music and singing I probably wouldn't have been able to muster up the strength to put myself out there with something so personal. I don't think they'll ever know how much they inspired me and encouraged me in the few days they were in Juneau.

This is really sappy. I'm fully aware---I guess I'm just that way...
I love my friends. I love Juneau. Things are getting brighter.
Thanks for letting me share...

-Amanda