Into Canada

After celebrating the 4th of  July, Pauline and Margret board a new ship from Canada and continue on their northern adventures.

Tuesday, July 4th.  In Canadian waters and flying the Canadian flag.  High mountains by the river again, lovely scenery.  Took a nap on the top deck in the sun.  M's fever is down to 101, feels much better.  Starting to eat.  We have a 4th party tonight.  I take charge of prizes.  Poor Mr. Poss - the ship's pest, as he is privately known.  At the amature on the other program, he told a most vulgar story.  He wanted to be on this program and finally backed the program chairman in a corner and demanded why he couldn't be on our program.  The chairman, in desperation, told him because the ladies objected to his stories.  Now he is looking like a whipped dog.  Oh dear, now I am beginning to feel sorry for him.  I hope I don't have to let my better nature get the best of me and have to act friendly.

Wednesday, July 5th.  Got off the boat about 9 after customs inspection, got our room, had lunch, slept, took a little walk, had dinner, slept.  About 10 went to dance.  Good time.  Got home about 12:15 - finally went to bed.

Thursday, July 6th.  Got up about 10.  Found out we were leaving tonight instead of tomorrow so signed out to get our room on the Casca - 19, just like the Yukon.  This is a Canadian boat, nice rooms the people say.  The doors open out onto the deck instead of into the dining room as on the Yukon.  Took a walk this morning to the port office and Robert W. Service's cabin where he wrote all his Yukon poetry.  Had a banana milkshake for lunch.  It is cloudy now and the show man is putting on a show at 3 o'clock.

Sidelight:  The Casca and the Whitehorse were the last two sternwheelers on the Yukon River.  Both were destroyed in a fire in 1974.  And Pauline was correct that the Casca had been built in 1936.


Later.  Went to the show but got thrown out.  There weren't enough to pay for running it so we got our money back.  Our baggage was put on board about 5 o'clock.  M and I took our coats over to our room.  It is the same number as on the other boat.  Much nicer rooms though, larger and newer looking.  The Casca is a newer boat, only one or two years old.  Our doors open out onto the deck here instead of into the dining room as on the Yukon which makes it much airier and easier to see the scenery.  M and I put her white mosquito netting over the door, there is no screen, so we can have the whole door open all night and still people can't see in very well.  Swell.  I had a bear steak dinner tonight.  M didn't go back ashore.  Then I came on deck and we sang farewell to the Yukon which sailed back to Nenana at 7.  They said they had never had a group that gave themselves and the crew such a good time as our group.  I had never had a group sing farewell before to the tune of "Farewell Ladies".  We sang goodbye to the ship Yukon, the Capitan and the crew, the cook, etc.  Fun.  We sailed about 10.  They gave us a midnight lunch then we went to bed.  It is now 12 and I can lie here to see the lovely Yukon scenery - green hills with many inlets and islands.  M is just about well now.


Friday, July 7th.  Got up about 9 - then went on deck to see the scenery.  More mountains now - good game country.  This afternoon we saw a bear, a big black one - climbed up the side of tree.  Stopped at Stewart about 11.  Took on some concentrate from the silver mine above there. It is going to the States.  Took a walk alone.  Two men had just shot a bear that morning and we watched them  skin him.  Back on deck met a Mr. King who got on there.  He pointed out a man who is an agitator and trouble maker.  Nicely dressed.  He said the Mounties were watching him.  Saw some Mounties in Dawson.  King also told about the Klondike river boat sinking in June 1936.  He was on it.  After dinner we watched the scenery again.  Boat stopped at a trapper cabin to leave some mail and lumber for a house and a radio.  Then Mr. Shedd and I played ping pong.  They have a real table here.  Played a game with the purser too.  Then had midnight lunch, now to bed.  It is still daylight all night long but not as bright as it used to be.  Resolved to get up for breakfast tomorrow so now to sleep - 12 pm.

Just Writin' on the River Road

Up to the Artic Circle

Pauline and Margret's adventures continue as they head up the Yukon River.  They even meet some famous people on the way.


Friday, June 30th.  Been a grand day.  Got up late....9:30.  The steward tried to get in three times before we got out of the room.  Loafed and played ping pong with M and Mr. Shedd.  About noon the boat stopped to put a marker up on the bank.  After lunch we played more ping pong and played cards.  After dinner we did the same.  It has been a warm lazy day -swell.  About seven we stopped at Purgatory - bachelor brothers live there.  They have the dock fixed up by the land and one brother stands beside it and waves his hands.  One is quite a poet and artist and their hut is full of things - they are trappers.  About ten we stopped at Beaver.  Here were real Eskimos.  The married women have tattoo marks on their chins.  There is a little government school.  Stopped about 12:30 for wood along the shore.  Saw the sun set about 12:32 and rise at 1:50.  We talked with one of the pilots, he is very nice.  He took us up to the pilot house and we stayed till two when the sun was well up.  Got to bed about 3 o'clock.

William Yanert

Side light:  The bachelor brother that Pauline met was William Yanert, a cartographer from Prussia.  He lived with his brother at a spot they called Purgatory for 37 years.  He was a poet and artist.  He is quoted as saying Purgatory was "one hell of a place to live."

Saturday, July 1.  Were in and out of the Artic Circle.  We entered the Artic Circle about 6 this morning.  I got up about 10.  This morning we took on some more wood.  After lunch, about 2, we stopped at Fort Yukon.  M mailed all our cards.  Then saw the sights - church and school.  Bought a beaded moccasins  done by the Eskimo ladies - 75 cents.  Back on board we watched the children scramble for money people on the boat tossed them.  Sailed on then after talking with a girl, 22 - who runs a trap line 280 miles back in the wild.  Two sisters, mother and father made about $5,000 on furs this year.  She had never been outside.  Left the Artic Circle about 8 tonight.  Got a picture of things and played ping pong then had a dance.  Danced with Mr. Shedd and Mr. Coats.  Went to bed about 11 - rather tired.  Have a book to read.  They have a little library on the ship.

Sunday, July 2nd.  Got up about 10.  Went on shore at Circle.  They had some beautiful dogs.  And old Eskimo woman showed us the church.  There is no minister there but she keeps it up.  When I came back M was sick.  Still is.  I had lunch, played some ping pong, stayed on deck.  Went to church at 2:30.  A colnel (sic) chaplin led it.  Had chicken and ice cream for dinner.  Went out on the lower deck where the crew amused us by playing the accordian, a mouth organ and making a wooden doll dance.  Then they showed us the Alaska shotish (sic).  It is fun. Went upstairs and set the phonograph a going and practiced the shotish (sic) some more.  A lady who is a nurse came to M.  Left some pills for her to be taking every hour.  I stayed on the deck till 2, then lay on the top bunk.  Didn't undress so not to disburb M.

Monday, July 3rd.  M still sick.  Changed into my slacks about 9.  Came up on deck and ate an orange for breakfast.  Day pretty much routine.  Played ping pong.  Stopped at Eagle about 11 o'clock.  Very nice town.  Well kept and lovley flowers.  M. had a fever....103 tonight.  There is a nurse and doctor on board.  They suggested I move to an empty room.  So I did.  Slept well.

Just Writin' on the River Road

Family

Family.  We are all familiar with family . . . parents, siblings, cousins.  Family, however, comes in more forms than just a blood connection.  Family is a group of people with whom you share a very intimate, bonded relationship.

We have discovered one such family in these last few weeks.  Not that we weren't aware of it, but we had not been an intimate member of this portion of the "cancer" family in some time.  Sitting in

Our new family!

radiation oncology's waiting room is an experience that I hope no one ever has to share, but if you do, let me tell you what you will find there.

First, there are no secrets.  They talk about their cancer as we discuss the local gossip with a morning cup of coffee.  What kind?  What treatment?  What drugs?  What side effects?  What is the prognosis?  How do you feel?  There is no shame in the fact that they are sick, perhaps even deathly ill.

Second, it is the most positive place I have ever been.  These people encourage each other in ways that the rest of us can't even begin to understand.  They cheer each other on, celebrate each little bit of success.  They are happy, joking, empathetic, supportive......and I am not talking about the employees (although it is true of them also), these are the people awaiting treatment.  Each and every one is taking their turn with "the machine" that will burn and destroy some part of their body, but in spite of it all, they march forward heads held high and a smile on their face.  And they go with the support of their "family".

Third, it takes only a few minutes to be included in this family.  They know and remember your name, age, birthday, and any other amount of information that floats in and out of the conversation.  There isn't time for the mundane like politics, or television or news.  There is only time for the "family" that they meet every morning in the waiting room.  The openness and laughter are contagious, you enjoy being with them.

Ready for treatment.

This "family" that we will know intimately only for a few minutes for a few days will impact our lives forever.  How is that possible?  Is it the terrible circumstances?  Or is it because the unimportant things of life are stripped away and that which is really important comes to the forefront.  Ultimately, once this treatment is over, we may never see any of them again.  And yet, they have impacted our lives in so many ways.  Here, when you say "I hope I don't see you again." it is the most wonderful thing you can hope for...…..that you never see them again under these circumstances.

And lastly, the room literally vibrates with faith.  Whether the patient is a believer or not, they welcome everyone's prayers.  The loved ones whisper their concern about the fate of their family member, asking for others to pray for their health, yes, but ultimately for their salvation.  Sometimes we have to be stripped naked to see what is really important......the waiting room in radiation oncology does that.  You come away with wonderful, painful, insightful details of so many lives.  But the one thing I have never sensed there is fear.  I am not saying that is isn't there, they just don't focus on it.

When one is faced with death . . .  something we all talk about but never really deeply think about until it becomes so defined in our life . . . , when it hits us in the face, we see for the first time just how fragile and "human" we are . . .  now we get to choose how we handle it.  I admire each and every one of this new family.  They are facing the ultimate fear and overcoming.  I pray that I will face everything in life with such courage and positivity.

Just Writin' on the River Road