May 13th, Monday Started the day tidying up a bit because we know that Tuesday we’ll need to pack for our trip home. Ruth is going to see about having the carving she bought mailed as it won’t fit well in her bag.
Once we were ready for town, called Tommy and he said he’d meet us at the Bakery.
Jeff David, Linda, Tommy Bieleski
Good thing we chose a large round table when we went in because he was soon there and a lady at another table came over after talking with him. Sandra Fenn Martin, ahead of me in school, but lots of friends in common! She went home to find someones address and was back soon. Tommy called David Land to come down, and ran home to get his yearbook. Jeff David came in, and then Louie Meacock…the table kept filling up.
Jeff, Denise, Tommy, David Land
When we were done with breakfast, Linda and I stayed visiting while Nancy and Ruth went to the post office. They also got some cardboard somewhere to help stabilize our prints etc for the return trip.
When we were at the laundry, there was a neat poster on the wall, a drawing of Haines, Port Chilkoot and the harbor, with a sign saying the owner had more for $5 each. The girls checked more than once to find someone in residence who could sell them to us. Never made a connection.
Finally our ‘breakfast party’ broke up, but each of us had gotten more information on friends and classmates. When Nancy and Ruth returned for us, they had been told the newspaper was looking for us so we headed over there and yes they were! Had an interview with the editor as his writer was out in the field. Stopped in the Babbling Book bookstore (same building) and another gift shop before going on the check out Chilkat Valley Arts.
Also went to check on Mary Manuel again, and she was home and feeling much better. Nice visit with her, and her company that showed up, Rose Brouillette!
Denise, Linda, Mary Manuel, Ruth, Nancy
Went to the Bear Den for lunch, because we hadn’t been there yet!
That would be their sign!
Original Fresnel lens from Eldred Rock
A bit more exploring, which included the Museum and its store, and then to the library for a 6:30 class get together Nellie had invited us to. Monday was the start of her class, and this was a required attendance for class members, with the public welcome. We thought we were going to hear stories of the Tlingits. You know, just listening quietly in the background? Hmmmm.
First hint was reading the poster, it is about communications which of course oral history does come under but the wording was not precisely that. Then the chairs all need to be in a circle. Then everyone is to introduce themselves and their connection etc. Hmmmm.
Oh, forgot to say, met Pat Philpott again, Nellie’s little brother. He was just a little kid last time!
So there we are in a circle, with folks introducing themselves and giving their Tlingit names and moieties in addition to other names and why they are there. Okay, we are ‘The Children of Glacier Point’ honorary Ravens through Jack David and just visiting.
We were the first ones they wanted to talk to because Glacier Point had come up in discussion earlier during class time. It may have historical evidence as a place the Tlingits spent time berry picking due to the prevalence of high bush cranberries, blueberries and strawberries in the past. Assured them that if our parents had ever seen signs of prior occupancy [pre homesteaders] that they would have shared that with Jack and others from Klukwan. Which does not mean there wasn’t such activity, just that our folks never saw any. Now of course we are interested in that possibility, and told them if they ever do a dig down there, we want to know!
Hadn’t had dinner yet, so off to the Bamboo Room, and were almost too late to eat, they close early. Couldn’t have the seafood but got filled anyway, and off home.