The dark is getting long, now. It starts at about 5, does not relent until about 9 in the morning, and we lose minutes every day. I remember being freaked out by this before, but this year it's not that bad. This is partly because I've been nannying during the day, which means that I spend a good long while outside every day, on pleasant walks and playing in the snowy backyard.

Besides, there are major perks to Anchorage winters. The glistening sideways light, which comes low and lower from the south, and makes everything into purple and pink and orange and gold, is here now; it is extraordinarily beautiful, something I've loved forever but only gotten for a few moments at wintertime dusk in my "lower 48" upbringing. I love, too, these evenings that are full of friends and music and food, or pajamas on at 7 and painting reading chatting writing nesting from then on. Our little apartment is a safe and warm cocoon, with lovely, frequent visitors who often bring musical instruments and food. And now that the ice is frozen, daytime can be spent in the loveliness of gliding around on glassy lakes with mountains shining in the distance.

This Alaska--this beautiful wild space--is a good place to be. {I am grateful!}