Ann Parker - Follow Me to Alaska: A True Story of One Couples Adventure Adjusting from Life in a Cul-de-sac in El Paso, Texas, to a Cabin Off-grid in the Wilderness of Alaska

Copyright 2020 by Ann Parker

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means - electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other - except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

For more stories, pictures, and videos, go to https://followmetoalaska.com or check out our Facebook page, Follow Me to Alaska.

Printed in the United States of America

Interior Design: Creative Publishing Book Design

This book is dedicated to the pilots, crew, and pararescuemen of the 176th Airwing 210th & 212th Rescue Squadrons of the Alaska Air National Guard. Without their bravery and dedication to downed airmen, this book could have had a completely different ending.

Acknowledgments

T his book would not have been possible without the encouragement of so many people. Several years ago, I started sharing our Alaskan experiences on Facebook. My friends and family enjoyed hearing about all of the predicaments that Shon and I were facing out in the bush and encouraged me to share more. I consistently heard that people were living in Alaska vicariously through us and wanted to hear about our day to day lives. After a while, these people in my life, many of whom I hadnt seen in thirty years or more, suggested that I write a book. After hearing that thought repeatedly, the idea was born. I toyed with it for quite some time while enjoying the connection with people online through my tales of our adventures and misadventures. The book idea would have remained a dream without a challenge from my adventurous husband. One day as Shon and I were talking, I mentioned writing the book once again. Shon shocked me when he said, Are you going to continue to talk about this book or actually write it? At that moment, I knew I needed to get it done.

In less than an hour, I had an outline written. I called the only writer I knew, Tera Evans, and told her my idea. She was excited about the prospect and vowed to hold me to it. Another friend, Wendy Scott, was my first reader. I sent her the first several chapters and held my breath. She called me the next day, asking for the rest of the book. When I told her that it wasnt written yet, she informed me that I needed to get busy! She and her family wanted more. With all of that encouragement, I posted on Facebook that I was going for it. I requested suggestions from the people who had been reading my stories for years. I was overwhelmed with the response. To all of my friends and family who encouraged me, I want you to know that this would not have happened without your sweet words.

As the process got into full swing, more people became involved. My conscientious sister-in-law, Kandis Dobbs, was my first editor. Reading each word, she gently suggested ways to improve sentences so I wouldnt make English teachers cringe. I also was introduced to another writer, Sara King, by her grandfather and my racquetball partner, Tom Brion. Tom had written a book with his granddaughters help called Stories Ive Heard, Characters Ive Met & Lies Weve Told in My 44 Alaskan Years. Sara helped me through the process of self-publishing. Without her valuable expertise, I am not sure this book would have made it to completion. At her suggestion, I sent the book to forty unbiased readers to get their feedback. I quickly dubbed them my fabulous forty. Their questions and suggestions showed me how to bring the book up a notch! Their work was invaluable! And my dear friend, Tera Evans, was my final editor.

To the people involved in the process and the people who are in the stories, I thank you. You have made this book what it is.

Table of Contents

List of Characters

Ann Parker Thats me!

Shon Parker my adventurous husband

Kyle & Jared our two boys

Mirai Kyles wife

Walt our air taxi pilot out of Willow

Roger our neighbor across Cub Lake

Lilly, Peanut, & Chachi Rogers dogs

Larry and Jody freighters who barged our belongings up the Yentna River

Lucille Heater Larrys wife and author of the book, Life on the Yentna

Ken Lee snow machine freighter and Iron Dogger

Kuma our precious German Shepherd

Cindi owner of Skwentna Roadhouse

Bob & Ruth original owners/builders of the cabin on Cub Lake

Steve postmaster of the Skwentna Post Office

Bonnie Steves wife

Tom Brion my racquetball partner and owner of Bentalit Lodge, author of the book Stories Ive Heard, Characters Ive Met & Lies Weve Told in My 44 Alaskan Years

Patty Toms sweet wife and owner of Bentalit Lodge

Fishing Joe our talkative friend

Jack our friend who crashed his plane off of the end of our runway

Ray & Riska friends with the Husky who called for help after Shons crash

Johnny original owner of N3227M

Mike flight instructor

Kay my 7th grade English teacher I discovered in Alaska

Robert Kays husband and our airplane mechanic

FBI Billy Johnnys neighbor who graciously offered us the use of his home

Russell our first grandson

*Some names may have been changed for privacy.

PREFACE

Our Beginning

I cant say that it was love at first sight, but it was pretty dang close. I met Shon at Casino Night at Angelo State University when I was a sophomore, and he was a junior. He was hobbling around on crutches with a broken ankle. One leg of his jeans was cut so it would go over the cast. I happened to notice tire marks along the leg with the cut. He was telling a group of friends that he had run over his ankle with a three-wheeler a couple of days before and seemed somewhat proud of the tire marks. I piped up and said, So . Dont you ever wash your pants? I got a good laugh from the group, but Shon gave me a look that said, Who do you think you are? If Id only known then that Id be washing his pants for the rest of my life, I might not have been so glib.

Several months later, a mutual friend called me to ask if I would go with Shon to help him pick out a suit for a job interview. He was applying for the San Angelo Police Department as a police officer. My friend, Terri, had tried, but she hated shopping and hadnt been able to help. I readily agreed. I remembered the guy with the dirty pants. He was cute. We agreed on a time, and Shon came to pick me up at my apartment. We spent the entire day looking for an appropriate suit. I finally decided he wasnt suit material, so I suggested we go to a Western Wear store. After a quick look around, I picked out a white shirt, brown jeans, and a sharp-looking Western jacket. His cowboy boots completed the outfit. When he came out of the dressing room, Im pretty sure he saw on my face that we had found the perfect clothes for the interview. He looked good, really good. He was tall, fit, and easy on the eyes. I told myself to quit staring.

Even though we had had an enjoyable day shopping, I didnt hear from Shon for a while. I was bored one night and called my friend, Terri, to see if she wanted to go to dollar night at the movies. On Tuesday nights, we could get in one of the local movie theaters for a buck with our college ID. She said she was studying for a final, but that I should call Shon or his roommate, Jeff. I thought about it for a bit and decided to give it a go. Id met both of them and decided I would ask whichever one picked up the phone. As chance would have it, Shon answered and agreed to go with me to the movies. We had a wonderful time that evening, laughing and talking. We enjoyed getting to know each other better that evening and the next several evenings. When Terri called me that Friday, she was shocked to find out that Shon and I were engaged! We got married five months later while he was in the police academy. Neither of us was impetuous, but we both knew right away that we were right for each other.