The Moose River is a very slow moving river and the Kenai is fast. The owner of the trailer court we lived in would plow snow off the top of the Moose River then flood the plowed area with fresh water. When frozen, it was a skaters paradise. Guess what our first Christmas presents in Alaska were? Yes, ice-skates, coats, gloves, and other much appreciated/needed winter clothing. Christmas day was -40 degrees F. Nonetheless, we went skating! Kids falling on their "padded" areas, the surrounding winter beauty, all made for some memorable home movies. Can you imagine what it is like for kids trying to cry or a mother laughing hysterically (with tears, no less) at -40 degrees? The tears, rather quickly, turn to ice, which causes more tears, ...on and on! Oh, how I love those old super 8 films.
Many were the times we would try driving through the herds of moose trying to get to town or visit relatives in Ninilchik. In summer, we fought dusty gravel roads (and the Alaskan Mosquito :)), and in winter, moose, snowstorms, and unplowed roads. With Halliburton, Dad worked at the Swanson River oil field and later, he went to work with Standard Oil Co. In 1965, he went to work for Shell Oil Co. on one of the new Cook Inlet platforms. He remained employed with them till his retirement. Driving the Swanson River road was, and still is, an experience of itself. Twisting, up and down, pot-holes, dusty in summer, and snow-ice in winter, it is quite the adventure.
I started work at Swanson River oil field in 1983. As a young boy, I wanted to follow in my dad's shoes when it came to a career. I started as a contract laborer. Starting in 1984, I have been employed by Chevron, Arco, and now Unocal. The oil field has either been operated by, or owned by, one of these companies.
1964 will be remembered by everyone that lived around here all their lives! It was the year of the Great Alaskan Earthquake. Stories of that earthquake and what people were doing will be told for years. The ground heaving, trees falling like toothpicks in a windstorm, cracks opening in the earth before your eyes, cars banging together, buildings collapsing, wild animals going crazy, it was something. We moved from that location, which consisted of 160 acres with trailer and lean-to, to the present family homestead. The family home now sits on 40 acres with the main state highway running through the middle of the property. The house is a 2-story log cabin. When puchased, there was no plumbing and no running water. Heat was from a woodburning barrel stove, water we got at the local artesian water well, and many times we had Coleman lanterns for light. We did have electricity, but in those days, it seemed we were without more than with it. The log cabin sits on a small hill, and throught the picture windows, the beauty of 2 mountain ranges and a vast open land is there to be enjoyed every day.
In 1964, I started attending the Sterling United Pentecostal Church. That changed my life forever. It was there that I experienced my personal "pentecost" as related in the Holy Bible, book of Acts and chapters 2, 8,10, & 19. I thank God for this.
After high school, I attended and graduated from the Conquerors Bible College in Portland, Or. (1972-1975). College life was, well, college life! It was there that I met my wife to be, Marilynn. Happily married for 21 yrs, we have lived (for a short or long time) in Portland, Or., Rupert, Id., Pontiac, Mi., and here in Alaska. We have moved into different homes 19 times. This last home has lasted for 10 years! Miracles never cease! :) Just after college, we returned to Seward, Alaska to pastor a small church. While there, the Lord blessed us with our first child.
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created on Monday, October 23, 1995 - 8:50:07 AM
updated on 08May08