Arctic Entries

On a good day, Marcia feels that her life is full of love, laughter, maybe a couple tears and warm companionship. On a bad day, she checks out Alaska Airlines for good deals to take her to a new adventure. On all days, she tries to remember to feel gratitude that she is still breathing.

Raised in Anchorage, Westley graduated from the University of Wyoming in addition to studying abroad at the Carl von Ossietzky Universitat in Oldenburg, Germany. He is passionate about the outdoors, and enjoys all things involving mountains and running—especially when combined. Above all, he loves his family.

Kathy identifies as a reformed Southern Belle who has made the transition from not knowing that she was high maintenance to now living without pretense and being able to go places without her purse matching her shoes, wearing makeup, and fixin’ her hair. She has been a nurse practitioner for 15 years but has specialized exclusively in psychiatry for the past 8 years. She has traveled many literal and figurative miles to find her way home.

Daniella is an electrical engineer and ex-navy nuclear electrician’s mate who pulled up anchor at eighteen in California. Through many twists and turns, she made her way to Alaska. When she’s not playing with live electricity, you can find her in her cabin off the grid in Chicken, AK, with her husband Ray. To read more about her latest Alaskan adventure, check out her website and sign up for her newsletter at: dmshepard.com. You can also find her on Twitter, @dmshepard13.

John came to Alaska as an interpreter for Russian biologists 30 years ago. He is looking for a way to slow down time so he and Elizabeth can enjoy their teenage boys a little longer before they leave home, which they claim they will. His favorite joke involves a tea bag, a match, and a story about a couple of astronauts.

Paul graduated from high school in Nome, and has been with the University of Alaska Anchorage for 17 years. He has a daughter who is an award-winning poet, three grandkids, and a wonderful nephew and great nieces. Paul has lived in Nome, Kotzebue, Fairbanks, Barrow, Sitka and Anchorage. He is a former photographer of Alaska fashion for public radio.

Carmel was born and raised in Southeast Alaska, and has loved watching three generations of family grow here. A fortune teller once revealed to her that she would someday have a story to tell, and someone would come find her to tell it. And now, here she is.

Margaret has been a lifelong Seward resident since 1933, the mother of four children and mother-in-law to four more. In that time, she operated a seafood processing plant with her kids, and is now involved in local politics and community affairs.

After a childhood spent in Alabama and then Hawaii, Donna headed Alaska in 1976, where she was the recreation director for the Glennallen construction camp during the building of the Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline, after which she met and married Bill Walker when she moved to Valdez. As First Lady, Donna serves as the Honorary Chair of the Alaska Children’s Trust and assists other organizations in improving the health, safety and wellbeing of Alaska’s families. Her interests include family dinners, ski trips, and spending time with her five grandchildren.

Penny is a 49-year resident of Alaska. The mother of dachshunds and yogi enthusiasts, she has been a hairdresser for 38 years.

Born in American Samoa, Mao grew up playing basketball and football in Alaska. In 2000, he was taken in the fifth round of the NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals, where he led the defensive line in tackles, as a rookie. Injured in his third season, he moved back to Alaska to raise his young family and begin working with at-risk youth in Anchorage.

Adil is a first-generation Pakistani American who loves to workout, play sports, and socialize. He’s always trying to plan the next vacation and is a strong believer in karma.

Michele is a lifelong Alaskan who has been teaching in one form or another since she was in fourth grade. When she’s not teaching, she prefers to be rowing, Nordic skating, or hiking. Her eclectic family includes a musician, an actress, and an outdoor educator.

Rebecca is a born-and-raised Alaskan, who loves technology and is a connoisseur of novelty mugs. Often she is found luxuriating at home watching TV with her two feline furbabies. Ultimate life goal? Travel the world!

Charlie moved to Anchorage from New York City with 21 boxes, a backpack, and 2 duffle bags. He likes cycling, skiing, beer, and building things. He once had an odd job.

Bennett is a 15-year-old from Anchorage currently attending West High School. He’s a saxophone-playing short person who likes to be outside as much as possible. When not outside, he’s typically working on bikes or busy with homework.

World traveler, adequate mom to three great kids, and wife to a guy who thinks biking up hills is fun, Alisha is an estate planning attorney, helping people plan for their future. In this case, “future” is a nice way of saying “death.” Her great claim to professional fame is taking the bar exam when she was 40 weeks pregnant—and passing.

Amy shares other true-to-life stories on her blog, TrivialCircumstances.com. Lately, she’s been writing about evangelicalism and sex. She’s also working on a divorce memoir (working title: Never Covered with Shame). When she’s not writing, you might find her managing software and IT projects for money, playing violin and piano, adventuring outside with her cranky corgi-mix dog, or eating all the good cheese.

Danelle is a third-generation Alaskan who has followed in her father’s footsteps as a mental health professional here in Anchorage. She also enjoys trail running, triathlons and teaching mountain biking.

Bill Popp came to Alaska in the winter of 1968 as a military brat arriving from Phoenix via the Alcan Hwy. Graduating from East High in 1977, he married his wife Nicole in 1979. After several careers, serving in political office, and growing corn and tomatoes and big-ass blue ribbon cucumbers in his greenhouse, all while raising a family in Kenai for 25 years, Bill moved back to Anchorage in 2007 to run the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation.