HAINES -- I try to see the bright side of things, so it may be no surprise that my year in review from Haines, this fishing and tourist town of about 2,500 people, is a (sort of) top 10 of 2014.
1) Dugout canoe journey: Local Tlingits paddled a 28-foot traditional dugout canoe that tribal youths built with guidance from artist Wayne Price 100 miles down Lynn Canal to Juneau for Celebration, the regional gathering of clans. The dugout held six paddlers who switched in and out from a larger scow and fishing boat traveling with them, plus Wayne, who steered the whole way from the stern. "There are few times when you know for certain you did something right, and this time I knew I had done that. My mission in life is to pass on what it means to make a dugout. When I hear the songs of my ancestors coming across the water, then my job will be done," Wayne said.
2) 63-foot obelisk: There's a new landmark tower. Phyllis Sage and Joanne Waterman restored the 100-year-old fire hall that they own in Fort Seward to its historic height. The 63-foot white obelisk is visible from the docks and mountaintops. Joanne and Phyllis also became the third same-sex couple to marry in Alaska.
3) New leaders: There's new community leadership. We elected a new mayor, Jan Hill, and hired a new borough manager. Dave Sosa is a former Marine and so far, so good. His first borough budget presentation (given by CFO Jila Stuart) began with the Athenian citizen's oath, which reads in part: "We will strive unceasingly to quicken the public's sense of civic duty. Thus, in all these ways, we will transmit this city not only, not less, but greater and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us." (The budget is about $12 million this year.) There's a new school superintendent, Ginger Jewell, who is getting good reviews. (The best thing at the Haines School this year is the Man Choir, made up of a handful of high school boys who sing a cappella with humor and skill.) The new police chief has had a rockier time. After a rash of thefts that were not solved, he suggested that we should all begin locking our homes and vehicles.
4) Color Haines blue: The Democratic Party opened an office here and it apparently paid off, with Haines voting for Mark Begich, Forrest Dunbar, Bill Walker and Byron Mallott, Dennis Egan, Sam Kito, and "yes" on all the ballot measures. A late Christmas gift arrived with the news that the new governor halted spending on the Juneau-Haines road, which the community opposes.
5) Wet, wet: It rained a lot. Almost 17 inches set a new record for June, July and August. But the regular annual celebrations were a hit — the Great Alaska Craft Brew Festival in May and the Kluane to Chilkat International Bike Relay in June. The Mt. Ripinsky Run on July 4 was canceled due to rain and the picnic was moved into the library, but the sun came out for the Southeast Alaska State Fair and parts of the eagle festival. They say rain at a wedding is lucky, and this year we danced at some of the happiest, wettest bridal parties ever.
6) Rescue: Sometimes things don't go from bad to worse. A mayday call during a midnight storm resulted in the rescue of young fisherman Woody Pahl by two beginning gillnetters, Chris Olsen and Blake Ward. Veteran Brad Badger stood by with the spotlight on the waves while the boys tossed the life ring and pulled Woody to safety.
7) Heli-ski tragedy: Sometimes things do. A heli-ski guide died following an avalanche. It was the fourth heli-skier death here in three years.
8) End of a medical era: Len Feldman, the doctor who delivered my daughter in Haines 29 years ago, saw patients in his home, was his own nurse and receptionist and sometimes had a dog in the office, retired and moved to Port Townsend, Washington. (There are still doctors at the clinic and in private practice.)
9) Onward and upward: The Arts Confluence won a $217,000 grant to revitalize the town with art by local artists, and organizers began with downtown store windows. Aspen Hotels is building a 50-room motel on Main Street, and the Haines Brewery announced plans to build a new facility next door. Third Avenue was paved. The library continued to be recognized nationally for excellence and the Chilkoot Indian Association built a new office downtown.
10) And finally . . . The farmers market promoted eating local produce and the ski club set tracks on Chilkoot Lake. The only thing missing was sunshine, ice and snow. Have I mentioned the rain?
Personally, it has been a care-giving kind of year. My husband crashed on his bicycle and broke his pelvis and I cut the cord at my fifth grandchild's delivery and kissed my mother-in-law before she went into heart surgery -- and when she came out again. The women's choir I sing with rehearsed almost every Thursday at the museum and sang the national anthem before a high school basketball game – as well as "Precious Memories" as a coffin was carried to a grave and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" at the Holly Jolly Follies. I wrote 16 obituaries and changed at least that many diapers.
2014 has been less of a waltz and more of a reel — but maybe that's the way life should be? It's good to reach for hands, hold on tight and do our best to remain upright (and keep those around us from falling) as we sashay (yes, sashay, why not?) into the new year.
Haines author Heather Lende's third book, "Find the Good," will be published in the spring of 2015. Until then, check her blog or Facebook page.