On Returning For A Second Year...

Well, we're on Week 5 here at the lodge which in and of itself is crazy. June flew by and I'm sure July will as well. I had planned to post something on Day 1, but with the new expansion things have been especially crazy around here. Coming back was a strange mix of new and old; as if familiar and unfamiliar were playing tug-of-war all around me. I think my biggest mistake was thinking everything would be the same as it was last year, because although most of the crew was here last year we are working in a new kitchen and living in a new crew quarters. It was a weird adjustment where I didn't know where anything was or what was left to be done and I felt like a new employee all over again. Once the season got started things felt a lot more normal, and especially once we got past the first few weeks of new guests. The first two weeks are almost completely new guests and it's always great to meet new people and watch them go from silent at dinner on the first night to chatting like old friends on the last night, but having the returning guests here is so nice. It was a welcome change this year that instead of saying, "Hello, my name is Molly..." this season I get to say "Hi, it's so nice to see you again..." And working with people that I've already spent a season working with makes everything so much easier.

Last year I wrote an Alaska Bucket List before I left and I was lucky to cross every item off the list, so this year I have a new list:

1. See the orcas. I see Humpback Whales every day, but I never seem to be around when the orcas are seen. This year I plan to change that.
2. See a bear. I am the only person left who hasn't seen a bear.
3. Catch a big Halibut. The biggest one I've ever caught is 33 lbs. That's not big.

Coming back was a bigger adjustment than I thought it would be, but it's definitely easier than it was coming up here the first time. Already knowing the job, the crew, and a lot of the guests makes everything a little easier. I can't believe we're already 1/3 of the way through the season, it's flying by (fun fact: my 21st birthday is in 44 days. Woohoo!). Each day has its ups and downs but as long as the good days outweigh the bad it'll all be worth it in the end. 

A Quick(ish) Shoutout to Saturday

I've been on this planet for a little over twenty years, two whole decades. Within each of those years were fifty-two weeks, each containing one Saturday. So far, I have experienced roughly one thousand and forty Saturdays. That's a lot of Saturdays. Some were more exciting then others. Some I don't remember because I was simply to young to retain the knowledge. Some were spent in bed with a bowl of popcorn and the whole of Netflix at my fingertips; endless hours of entertainment and it didn't matter when I went to sleep because I didn't have school the next day. Some were spent sleeping over at a friend's house playing Mario until we shouted ourselves hoarse. Some were spent staying out late dancing in crowded rooms with too many people and going to Zips at two AM, which is always fun, even when they give you regular fries instead of curly fries. But no matter how they're spent, Saturday nights are something every person looks forward to.

Saturday is the best day of the week, and here is why you should agree with me:

1. Friday has school. Sure, you can still do something fun that night, but you still have to spend the day in school and school isn't exactly hours of fun.  
2. You don't have to do homework on Saturday. Sunday is the day when you kick yourself and swear that next weekend you won't save all of your home for Sunday night at 9:00 PM, and you have an entire week to forget why you hated yourself come Sunday.
3. By the time Sunday rolls around you're already counting down to the next weekend. Sure, you say you're looking forward to Friday (see point 1), but still.

While I'd like to credit everything to Saturday, I must give credit where credit is due. Saturday is only as fun as those you surround yourself with. Some nights it's a laptop and a bowl of popcorn. Other nights it is a choice few favorite people. The nights that always stick with me though are the ones where I just end up surrounded by a ton of people that I love. The unplanned nights, the ones where you aren't sure how you are going to pass the hours until you realize that they've already passed. That's the beauty of Saturday. It's the one day that you can throw the routine out the window and just let the night take control. So thank you Saturday for making all the other days worth getting out of bed for. We'll see you next weekend.