Like always, Greg

I have two quotes handwritten on the white board that hangs on my fridge. They read:

"Pilgrim on earth, they home is in heaven!"

and

"To those leaning on the sustaining infinite today is big with blessings."

Both are from the book Science and Health.

The first one stuck out to me because it reminds me that heaven is a state of mind you can - and in fact do - live in at any given moment ... it's just a matter of bringing your consciousness to recognize that fact.

The second is a message of ever-present good in life ... even when circumstances would shout otherwise.

Yesterday I received news that Greg (see a few posts below, re: Equinox in Fairbanks) died. In the last 24-plus hours I've been through the gamut of emotions, and the waves are still hitting shore.

But this post is not so much about me, as it is about an incredibly generous soul who touched my life in a pretty profound way in the few short months I knew him. A runner, an uncle, a diesel engine mechanic, a cyclist, a musher, a snowboarder, a traveler, a compassionate boss, a story teller, a pilot, a volunteer, a coffee aficionado and a friend ... who was reliable, genuine, independent, fun-loving, easy to talk to, sincere, thoughtful, kind, adventurous, active and a whole lot more.

A little anecdote: Greg told me a story about how he put is job on the line to first hire somebody in a halfway house and then defend that employee when his criminal background came into question ... Greg said the guy was one of the most hardworking, dependable employees he'd ever hired ... and when his company wouldn't let Greg rehire the guy (seasonal employment), he went to great lengths to give the guy a good recommendation for other jobs.

Another anecdote: The last time I saw Greg, exactly one week ago, he talked about a model breaking system for buses that he had built 10 years ago out of spare parts. Apparently it's still used to train students studying mechanics in a school in Seward. He said, "I'm tooting my own horn a little bit," and then went on to explain the intricacies of it. He said he'd like to build a modern model breaking system. "I'm going to put the word out for spare parts," he said. He had such great curiosity and knowledge ... a truly active mind. When I asked him why he didn't pursue a career in aviation mechanics, which is what he studied in college, he said it was because there are so many governmental restrictions put on plane mechanics ... it took the creativity out of it, he said in so many words.

One more anecdote: Greg invited me out for drinks at Cafe Amsterdam, a bar he raved about for its good beer and low-key atmosphere. We had a fabulous evening drinking foreign beer, eating delicious appetizers and talking, talking, talking. As Greg put it in an e-mail he sent me the following morning, "That was a lot of fun last night, we should try to do that sort of thing more often!" At some point toward the end of the evening I got up to go to the bathroom. In the few short minutes I was gone he paid the bill, unbeknown to me until I asked for it at the end of the night. I still owe him a dinner at the Tap Root Cafe, which was the next place we planned to check out.

A last anecdote: I heard him tell the same story over and over again about a remote village in Africa that he visited ... one his friend worked in while serving in the peace corps. He grew a real affection for the people in the village, particularly the women who he endlessly entertained by trying to participate in their chores. He was hoping to go back to Africa this winter.

There's many, many, many more stories. I'll write them down with time - either on this blog or in my own journal.

I close with Greg's own words. They're excerpts from e-mails he sent me.

"Very cool that you brought up the topic of religion yesterday. That's not a subject that many people are quick to bring up. I pray a lot as well in difficult or challenging situations."

"I hope you had a good day today. Mine was good. I got stuck at work for another long day, helping a couple of the other mechanics with some technical stuff. I really enjoy the teaching/coaching part of my job."

"I really admire your positive outlook on people, the world, life in general. I can always see the positives in a situation ... I like that you make traveling and getting out in general a priority in your life. Life is too short not to take advantage of what we have."


The last e-mail I wrote to Greg, on Oct. 20, was titled "Hasta manana." It was to confirm our morning coffee time, and for some reason I felt compelled to write it in Spanish. It read, "Nos juntamos a las 7 de la manana, como siempre." Translation: We'll get together at 7 a.m., like always.

Like always, Greg.

Good customer service seals the deals

Dealing with local, customer-service oriented companies can be downright refreshing.

I recently signed up for phone and Internet service from the Matanuska Telephone Association. When I called, I got an answer right away. The people who helped me were not only cheerful, but also helpful.

The representatives looked for ways to give me discounts — even though I had already made it clear I planned to sign up for the services regardless. They patiently answered my questions and made the process efficient.

It was a different story with Clearwire Inernet. When I called to cancel, I was sent through a seemingly endless automated voice network before finally reaching someone with a southern drawl.

Mr. southern drawl started by grilling me on why I was ending the service — not that it was any of his business because I had more than fulfilled my one-year contract — but I complied, and explained that I had moved out of the company's service area.

Is there anybody I want to pass my account on to? Mr. southern drawl asked. He pointed out the “benefit” the next person would receive by not having to pay a setup fee.

Nope, I said, I'd just like to cancel.

At this point Mr. southern drawl informed me I would be charged for an additional month of service from the day I called to cancel — even if I sent my modem (the device necessary to use Clearwire's service) into its Las Vegas headquarters ASAP.

When I pressed the issue — asking why they would not prorate my service according to when they received my modem — I was told that “they” might “review” my bill once they received my modem.

Who's “they” I asked?

Account services, Mr. southern drawl replied.

Can I get a direct number to account services? I asked.

We are account services and there is no direct number, the voice on the other end said.

So, if you're account services, why can't you help me resolve this matter now?

Mr. southern drawl began to mumble — obviously, no script had been written to answer that question.

I then turned the conversation to the question of this term “review.” Does that mean that once the modem is received, I'll only be charged for the service I used?

More runaround mumbling, so I rephrased the question.

Is there any sort of company policy that allows “them” to prorate my bill?

I at least got an honest answer to that one — no.

Slightly frustrated and annoyed — but still polite — I suggested that Mr. southern drawl pass onto his managers that a policy that charges people for unused service doesn't create for good customer relations. Word of mouth is still the best form of marketing, I pointed out, and I, for one, will recommend people seek out Internet providers other than Clearwire — maybe by signing up with MTA.


Editor's note: this commentary ran in last week's edition of the Alaska Star. To view the text on the Web site, click here.

Puppy luv

Xela and I were trying to pose for a picture (at a location five minutes from where we live), when Tomba (Xela's neighbor friend who goes on walks and runs with us) jumped up. Joshua caught it on camera.

The cabin

Here's a few photos of my new home. I refer to it as "the cabin" or "my cabin." I love living here. The Chugach Forest is right out my back door ... a path from my cabin hooks up with endless miles of tails that access innumberable peaks.

It's a duplex, so I share a wall. My neighbors are great ... super nice and love having Xela over to visit.

There's actually a nice blanket of snow on the ground now right now. (I've been a little bit behind the game on getting these photos posted ... crazy doesn't begin to describe work). Maybe this weekend I'll get a few shots of the winterscape up on the blog. Everything is so crisp and fresh!

Backyard treasure

Xela and I are starting to settle into our new cabin. Today marks the first official day of Internet access for me ... so I'm moving back into the 21st century ... but still retaining plenty of rustic, quintessential Alaska.

Today was just one of those days at work. I got home feeling depleted and deflated. Xela, on the other hard, got home feeling buoyant and bouncy ... her way of saying, "mom, is it time for our daily run?"

Well, I couldn't quite get myself motivated to go for a run, but I could get myself motivated to get out the door.

We headed down the trail that leads from the back door of our cabin to basically endless trails through Chugach State Park and Chuguch National Forest. I mosied along, Xela leaped down the trail, every now and then running back to make sure I still trailed.

Five minutes into our walk I heard a big "kerplunk," and then "splash." It sounded like somebody had cannonballed off the boardwalk into the lake up ahead. Expecting that to be a very unlikely scenario, I approached cautiously.

The lake came into view and there was a mama grizzly and her two cubs swimming through the water!

I put a leash on Xela and we slowly walked up the trail - giving the trio plenty of room. They didn't even notice us go past.

At the next boardwalk, a fair distance away, I stopped and watched the bears as they made their way down river in the opposite direction.

Only the sound of salmon jumping out of the water pierced the dusk silence.

As the skies darkened, we continued down the trail.

A few minutes later a shrill sound rang through the forest. The more we walked, the louder and hoarser the shrill became. In a very eerie way, it sounded like a little kid screaming.

Following the noise, I spied a big bird perched in a tree. I'm not much of a birder and I couldn't quite figure out what type of bird it was.

I watched it for a minute or two and walked on.

The bird followed, swooping right in front of use before landing on a branch - this time perfectly silhouetted by the faded grey night.

My best guess: a great horned owl. It certainly had the two pokes (for lack of better words) sticking out of its head.

By the time we returned to our cabin, my whole demeanor had done a 180. It's a true treasure to have Alaska as my backyard.