An Epic Journey Part II

Our next treat was from the ship where we parked ourselves on the balcony outside our stateroom to watch as the captain and pilot skillfully wedged our giant ship into a fjord (Endicot Arm) that led to Glacier Bay (Daws Glacier).  The views were staggering and the fjord was positively littered with chunks of ice that ranged in size from a standard mid-sized sedan to the size of a rail car or two.  As it turned out, the water was so littered with ice chunks, the captain and pilot made the call not to run the gauntlet and get us next to the glacier.  Although disappointed we did not get to experience that, I am grateful for that decision as the idea of sitting in a lifeboat in that cold water and weather was and remains unappealing.

Our next port of call was Icy Strait Point, Alaska.  We did not have an excursion planned here, so we walked for miles and then rode a gondola up an insanely steep mountain and enjoyed a view like none other.  It was difficult to take a poor photograph in this scenic fishing town (Hoonah) and atop this mountain.

Ketchikan, Alaska was where we found ourselves next.  Like most of the communities we had visited, for years the primary source of income for residents had been fishing and fishing related and all things related to logging.  As our captain and the pilot wedged our huge ship into an inconceivably small bay, harbor and pier, we noted some dilapidated ruins of something that had once obviously been industrial immediately adjacent to our pier.  We came to find out that this entire area had once been a pulp mill that was eventually shut down by the EPA because it was polluting to such a large degree.  A consortium that included our cruise line had purchased the land after it had been cleaned up and was repurposing it.  The inside of the cruise terminal was an amazing testament to that.  Although the oversize brick had obviously been cleaned, the company left rail cars inside that had been repurposed as bathrooms, storage and, as it turns out, the exit we took with our guide to get to the van that would take us on our next hike.  This hike too would take us back into another portion of the Tongas National Forest (see previous post also regarding this hike).  Although this hike was much less strenuous that the previous one, it was beautiful, peaceful and ended at a jewel of a lake whose beauty cannot be overstated.  

After our all too quick visit to Ketchikan, the ship’s captain and pilot reversed course and backed out of the tight confines of the small inlet and mooring there.  We then eased our way to the open sea surrounded by rain shrouded Alaskan mountains that seemed to beckon us to stay longer.  But, leave we did and the ship left those mountains astern.  Our last port of call was Victoria, BC.  Although we only spent a couple of hours ashore in the evening, we found it to be spotlessly clean, beautiful and welcoming.

As with all journeys, this one eventually came to an end.  But before I conclude, I would be remiss if I failed to mention a few things that happened toward the end of our epic journey.

First, while enjoying a very tasty Alaskan beer in a lounge on board the ship, a younger couple came and sat down by us.  There was plenty of seating in the lounge, but for some reason they sat near us.  Eventually, the conversation revealed that the young man (not terribly young but quite a bit younger than I) is a warrior servant currently serving our country.  As the conversation progressed, I came to find out that he had struggled (and still was struggling but to a greatly lessor extent) with weighty issues concerning his psychological health.  This young man opened up to two strangers and detailed some of his struggles.  Out of the deepest respect for him and his companion (a survivor of domestic violence) I will not go into detail, but I found myself in awe of their courage and perseverance.  As we parted ways, I did my best to encourage them both and was overjoyed that they are both healthy and taking the opportunity to spend time with each other and recharge.  I was also once again in awe of how people are often placed in each other’s paths by pure “chance”.  What are the odds that might find ourselves spending time together on that huge ship?  I am grateful to have shared time and a cold beer with them and deeply honored that these folks felt comfortable enough to share their struggles and a few laughs with us. These two embodied resilience and I wish them the best and will pray for their continued ability to heal and thrive.

Secondly, after an exceptionally distasteful encounter with someone who should be classified as a warrior servant, I think it is important to remind anyone who managed to tough it out and read this far that if you are in a position of authority and you abuse that authority, are condescending, rude, difficult, and obnoxious simply because you can get away with it, you are not a warrior servant.  What you are quite simply…is an asshole who occupies a position that should be occupied by a warrior servant.  Yes, all get tired.  All work long hours.  All are tried by difficult people and circumstances.  And, all of us fall short on occasion (I know I did).  But when your behavior is so egregious that most folks would classify you as a disturbed bully, you should seek help and step away from your position.

Finally, as I work to understand wellness especially as it relates to warrior servants, I am beginning to understand that resilience is of vital importance.  It is of vital importance to everyone. However, if your profession takes you in harm’s way and exposes you to repeated immersion in trauma and or stress (either directly or indirectly) this thing called resilience is absolutely vital.  I am also beginning to come to grips with the idea that there are many paths to resilience.  There are many strategies that we can all use to make us more resilient, and thusly more able to rebound to a more comfortable and reasonable baseline after trauma, stress, and unforeseen life events.  One of those strategies is taking the time to care for yourself, unplug and get away from “it all”.  Sometimes you just need to sit and stare out the window of a cruise ship (or the equivalent) at epic scenery.  Sometimes you need to contemplate snow-capped peaks, migrating whales and the occasional rainbow.  Relax.  Recover.  Recharge.  By doing so, you will contribute greatly to your resilience and wellness.  In doing so, you are likely to be happier, healthier, have better relationships and live a longer, fuller life.

Thank you for spending your valuable time with me on this journey.  If you find value in what you see here at Onbeyondblue.com, please share.