Amanda is always the deal shopper. Well, that keen eye paid off in 2021. She found tickets (red eye) to Fairbanks, Alaska, for $118 per ticket. That meant we could take the entire family to Alaska for about $750! Who could pass up a deal like that? We booked tickets and started to make arrangements. We arrived early morning on 19 July. We went straight to the hotel, in the bright light of the early morning hours, to get some sleep.
Later that day we made a stop or two, one of which was at Pioneer Park.
We spent some time at Pioneer Park and took too many pictures. But our goal was Mount Denali, which as a kid I knew as Mount McKinley.
We checked in at the Denali Park Hotel and went to discover some of the magic at Denalia National Park.
We saw some pretty amazing scenes.
Denali was hidden from us though. We did not get to see it while in the park.
Apparently Denali is often elusive. Many visits come to the park but never catch a glimpse of her. Even here, you would have thought we could see her shadow or silhouette. Nope.
Even the next day from the south, nothing. MIA.
We made our way to Talkeetna and Anchorage. I will have to write about those another day.
In July 2021 Amanda found some airplane tickets to Alaska for $117 per ticket. They were a red eye flight to Fairbanks. We jumped on the opportunity. I will share some of the photos and other exploits later, but one of the highlights was seeing my Uncle Doug and Aunt Linda Jonas at their home in Anchorage, Alaska. We also got to spend some time with my cousin, their son, Brook and his wife, Caitlin, at their home as well. The above photo is from Brook and Caitlin’s home on 23 July. It is not a great photo, but it is the best we have of the occasion.
We stayed with my Uncle and Aunt for several days. Another highlight of the trip was watching the kids play with their second cousins they had never met. Elle and Blye loved playing with our kids, and our kids had fun at their house!
This photo is from our last day when we left. Doug, Linda, and Blye sent us off with love.
Our red eye flight was in and out of Fairbanks, a 6.5 hour trip if that was direct. We were taking the long road through Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, so it was a much longer trip that included Glennallen, Paxson, Delta Junction, and North Pole.
The trip to Alaska was so successful, Doug came back that same summer to celebrate his 50th Class Reunion from Burley High School. It was supposed to be celebrated in 2020, but COVID-19 killed that, so they joined up with the 1971 group to celebrate their 50th in 2021.
We celebrated by throwing on a little party for Doug and Linda while they were in town. Jackie and Mary Lou are two other cousins that came to celebrate with us.
Paul – Married in a small private ceremony at the home of the bride’s mother in Paul were Jackie Jonas of LaGrande Ore., and William Francis “Willie” Melycher of Spirit Lake, Idaho. The cemerony, performed at 7 p.m. by Bishop Ronald Nielsen of the Paul LDS Second Ward, was held on July 23 at the home of Colleen A. Jonas, 575 W. 50 S., Paul.
The bridegroom is the son of William Francis “Red” Melycher, Newtown, Conn.
The bridge, given in marriage by Douglas Norwood Jonas of Anchorage, Alaska, wore a gown made by Joyce Miller, fashioned in the full length of white lace with white satin robbon bow around the neck and a cumberbund. Her mesh headdress was enhanced on each side with strands of flowers and beads. Her flowers were gardenias and white roses.
Matron of honor was Sandy Jonas Ross; the flower girl was Andra Ross; ringbearer Paul Norwood Jonas Ross; and the best man Milo Paul Ross.
The bride’s colors were turquoise, aquamarine and teal, with decorations by Patty’s. Candelabra was furnished by Alice Cannon. Pianist was Susan Neibaur.
Cindy Hotchkiss made the three tiered wedding cake, decorated in the bride’s colors and floral accents of gardenias, white roses, and greenery. Colleen A. Jonas cut and served the cake.
Others assisting were Sergene Sorenson and Rae Smith.
The couple traveled to Newtown prior to the wedding.
The bride, a graduate of Burley High School and Boise State University, is a brakeman for the Union Pacific Railroad at LaGrande; and her husband is a graduate of Henry Abbott Technical in Danbury, Conn., and is chief ultrasonic rail inspector for Dapco Industries, Inc., Ridgefield, Conn.
Working through more photos for scanning were these three family portraits all in the same frame. I am glad I took the one out to scan because I would not have otherwise found the other two. As you can see below, the last is faded from being in the front. I recall the one hanging near my Grandma’s phone, but I don’t ever recall the other two even though I think they are newer. These are all within a few years in the 1980s.
Doug is my Mom’s oldest brother. There are three, Doug in 1952, Mom in 1954, and Jackie in 1960.
Doug, Linda, and Brook lived in Soda Springs, Caribou, Idaho when I was growing up. They moved to Alaska about 1987. They still live there in Anchorage now.
Sagacity 