Valdez: "Things of Importance"

Until 2 weeks ago, I hadn't been to my hometown for 14 years. For the last 4 years, I'd gotten VERY homesick. I had a list of things I wanted to see and do while in Valdez and I think I've squelched my nostalgic yearnings for at least another 4 years! My best friend, Emily, took me on an Alaskan Tour and she and I made a pact to attend our 20th HS Reunion in 4 more years!

I REALLY wanted to go in my High School and reminisce. It was locked all weekend. Right before Emily and I left Valdez on Monday, we ran into a janitor that let us in. All the interior doors were open and we spent about an hour wandering around. High School really was fun and I wish I could go back and do it again, knowing the things I do now, about myself! Only I'll keep my HS body, thank you very much!


Our mascot was the BUCCANEER . . . No wonder I love all things Pirate! This tile on the floor of the cafeteria was our sacred emblem (a little scary, I know!) If a rival school wanted to insult us, they'd step on this tile!

The view in the cafeteria was of the library (lower) and the Senior "Lounge" (upper). When you were an Underclassmen in Valdez, you would sit in the cafeteria and WATCH the Seniors, up in their "Lounge." (Notice the black couch in the upper left corner of the "Lounge.")

As a Senior, you could sit in the "Lounge" RULING over the school and all you see . . . this couch has been in that "Lounge" for 20 years, at least!

Here is the proof!! It's me at 17 (half as old as I am now!!) sitting on that couch, in the Senior "Lounge." That head of hair must have taken me 2 hours to sculpt . . . all before early morning seminary!

I helped paint this large painting of Captain Morgan (a Rum Ad!) next to the HS office. I was surprised it was still there after 16 years!

Jennifer was my friend on the red hammock, a few posts ago, and Rhonda was our art teacher!

This Science lab brought back lots of memories . . . of Troy F., my biology lab partner, ditching school on the day we had to dissect a cat. Oh, the nightmares I still have about that cat. I had to saw it's head OFF with a little handsaw. Now you'll have the nightmares!

Or how about the first day of Chemistry, when I had the whole class look through ALL the textbooks to find the one that Kevin B. used, so I could have HIS book! I'm wearing his watch in that photo above . . . talk about obsessed! Brother!

Or how about lunch hour student government meetings, held in the lab . . . Early years spent hanging onto every word Shawn M. spoke, later years arguing with Lance B. . . . Oh, for someone who doesn't like science, I sure spent a lot of time in this room (mostly creating memories of BOYS!)

Goodness knows I didn't participate in any gym sports! I did try out for cheerleading and the girls/coach laughed and sent me home, but I did go to lots of BBall games and flirt my heart off.

We moved from the house in last week's post (the one that is now a Mexican restaurant/hair salon!), when I was in 2nd grade. My dad built this house on Mineral Creek Drive. It was fun to see the little front porch addition the new owners had added! Smart idea, since the snow sliding off the roof buried one of my brothers, once!

Jenny W., my Best Friend in Elementary school lived in this house. It was located about half a mile from mine, up against a mountainside. The snow avalanches off that mountain damaged a lot of homes, killing one person, recently (so I heard?!). Jenny's home was moved to a new location, about a block from my childhood home! What a shame that we weren't neighbors like that 20 years ago! Jenny is the friend I visited a few months ago, in Florida.

OK, I know this might seem totally weird, but I REALLY wanted to see the Valdez Post Office. In Valdez, all mail is delivered to the Post Office and everyone has a PO Box Address. I filmed a video tour, narrated by ME, but decided not to totally bore you. I might force it on my kids, though, so they'll quit complaining about walking 30 steps to our mailbox, in front of our house!

As a kid, I had about 20 pen pals from all over the world (sort of like social misfit kids today that don't have local friends, only online friends!!) As a college girl, home for the summer, I'd check EVERYDAY, hoping my boyfriends had written . . . of course, Damian was one of them, writing me from his mission in Spain.

It's weird to have your life revolve around mail, but I think it's very similar to kids today with their texting, emailing, blogging, etc.

This was my actual mailbox. And the Post Office smelled the same as I remember. In fact, a lot of places had smells that took me back: Eagle Market, my High School Art Room, the Boat Harbor (not such a good smell!) and McMurry's Halibut House. Suzie Blackburn (I can't remember her new last name) had the same perfume . . . and walking behind her took me back!

My phone number was 835-2696 and my parents were 835-2691. I asked my brother, John, if he was able to get our old number and he told me (in VERY DEJECTED TONES!) "No, I could only get 835-2061, but that's close!" So obviously, your identity in a small town is tied to your PO BOX and your phone number!

Emily and I ate here for lunch all 3 days. I know, we went a little overboard, but the "Crispies" are not rivaled anywhere else in the world. If you're from Valdez, you know what I'm talking about. I have been dying to have those again for 14 years!

This is our church in Valdez. No matter where I travel in the world, when I walk into an LDS congregation, I am at home. I love that! The doctrine is the same, the lessons schedule is the same, the whole world over, and the people are all basically the same. I've been to church all over the US/Hawaii, in Canada, Mexico, and France. I may not understand all the words, but the Hymns are the same and the Spirit is the same.

I only knew 9 families from my time in Valdez, but it was fun to meet new people and see the tiny congregation still thriving. The feelings of love and fellowship were sweet and I really love that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the same, the world over.

I was shocked when I walked into the chapel to realize how small it was. The front pew on the left was "ours." My mom sat behind the organ and my dad sat behind the pulpit as a member of the bishopric, when he wasn't working day shift. There was only one more row of pews behind me, as I took this photo!

I would like to ask my Mom a question at this time: "Mom, now that I am a parent I'd like to address an injustice! WHY IN THE WORLD DID YOU SIT BEHIND THAT ORGAN WHILE I TENDED YOUR 6 CHILDREN EACH SUNDAY FOR AN HOUR??!! There are only 3-5 songs, you could have come down between them! YOU TOOK ADVANTAGE OF ME!"

Maybe I'll cut her some slack. I've thought of joining my congregation's choir, just so once a month I can sit up in the choir seats, and not with my kids. And I sing like a strangled goose!

AAAHHHH, if you notice the label for this post is "Recovering from Val-Disease." I think after spending 3 days there, I am getting the longings for my hometown out of my system, at least for awhile!