It’s so strange to write about long weekends in the context of public school and work schedules and not have trips scheduled every couple of weeks. When were under a year at prior duty stations, we were cramming in every bucket list adventure possible. Here, however, I find myself savoring the slower pace of this season, and I like it. Labor Day Weekend 2024 was a quiet one, all things considered…and it was nice, especially because fall is here, and I just know that the snow is going to fly soon.
Labor Day Weekend 2024
While in years past we would have normally hightailed it out of town for the long weekend, this time, we stayed close to home. We’ve been in a bit of a state of flux for the past few weeks, which I mentioned in my last post. With all the house drama, we decided to stay close to home because we needed to pack. And, for those who missed it, we have been in the throes of packing to move to another house in our neighborhood due to mold and water damage in our current home. Wellllll…things change over a long weekend.
We literally spent this entire long weekend outside with friends. From backyard picnics to late night fire pits, chilly morning brunches, and more, we just savored every second – then did that quintessential pre-PCS purge in between it all and packed what we could. But it didn’t feel right. The idea of moving from our beloved little corner to a side street (even if it’s super close) just didn’t feel right (especially after an absolutely ridiculous night in which we almost made an IED by leaving a lighter in the fire pit and blowing it up). So, we changed our mind. We’re not moving to a new house. We’ll move into an Airbnb during the work, then we’ll move back…until we PCS next summer. Whiplash yet?
Fall is Here
Unlike much of the lower 48, fall is here in Alaska. Our mornings have been hovering in the very low-40s, though this week we’ll get up to the mid-60s during the day for what might be the last time this fall season. We’ve reached that point where the sun is warm, but the breeze is cold, and we’re definitely losing daylight quickly now, too.
Our first fall in Alaska was one marked by huge change. We (read: I) were really struggling with the extreme disparity between life in South Korea and life in interior Alaska. And, if we’re being honest, that hasn’t changed. What has changed, however, is that we just love our neighborhood. It is, without a doubt, the best neighborhood we’ve ever lived in on post. The people are phenomenal. The kids all get along, and it’s that one little pocket of Fort Wainwright that really feels like home. For that, I’m so, so grateful.
One Final Fall Season at Fort Wainwright
Last Labor Day, we spent a weekend in the dry cabins at Birch Lake, and it was so much fun. We still didn’t have our belongings, but it made it really feel like we were settling in. This time, we’re firmly settled here. We have a community, and we’re ready to kick butt this winter season. We geared up for the kids – a new snowsuit for Mieke and new heavyweight jackets for the boys – and we celebrated Labor Day with a cul-de-sac brunch day where literally everyone on our side of the neighborhood showed up with the best food and everyone soaked up the sunshine. Literally the best.
In all honesty, we likely won’t make much of a dent in our Fort Wainwright bucket list. I’m learning to be okay with that. Not every post is meant for that go-go-go mentality. Sometimes, a place isn’t your home, but the people are, and that’s what we’ve found here. So, we’re grateful, and Labor Day Weekend 2024 reminded us of just how much we have to be thankful for.