True Confessions of a Snow Princess
Dear Alaska, You are so lovely. And in you I am a snow princess. When I read about you in books, when I see pictures of sled dogs in hotels, when I sing the state song, I cry. You are in my blood and my bones. I had a notion wrapped in dreams, hopes, anticipation, anxiety, and stress...a notion that when I came back to you I would understand why I felt like I was always different. The differences would feel erased, I would finally be home. But you know what? I found out...I also feel different here. You know who I am like? Not Alaskans, not Mormons, not Alaskan Mormons, not people from small towns, not even necessarily my best friends (all people I previously thought I was like)...you know who I have found I might actually be most like? MY PARENTS. Yep. My parents are two of the most unique people I have ever met. Being like my parents means I will forever be different. I'm proud of that...not necessarily being different, but being like my p