must do manifesto

Today, in my own little socio way, I want to change the way people think of manifestos. For some strange reason, when you hear about someone’s manifesto, it’s after they have finished a random killing spree or assassination attempt. LOL but not really LOL.  A manifesto in simplest terms is “a public declaration of a person or group’s intentions, beliefs, or aims. It’s like a mission statement that outlines what they stand for and what they want to achieve.” BAM! Simple. Today I want to talk about my “Must Do Manifesto.”

For most people, their “Must Do Manifesto” is really their Bucket List. I don’t particularly like the term “Bucket List.” Although I do love that movie!  It is #3 on my list of all-time favorite movies. The bad thing about the term “Bucket List” (just like in the movie with the same name) is when you tell someone that you want to do something because it is on your Bucket List, they assume you are dying. Trust me, it’s a thing. One of my kids asked me if this was my way of telling them I am dying. So let me start with, I am not currently dying any more or less than anyone else is every day. You know one day closer to death, yada, yada, hahaha, funny not funny.

There are so many things on my Must Do Manifesto.  One of them is to see a glacier. It might seem very random, but there are a few places/things I have always wanted to do or see. The Grand Canyon (looks so fake but it’s gorgeous), Niagara Falls (so much falling water and the barrels that people went over the falls in) and the Eifel Tower (best macarons on the second floor) were all on my list.  Check, check, check, got all of those done. The list is not empty, not even close. As I check things off, more things get added.  (I just added ride an ATV!)

This year I am having a big birthday.  I don’t want to share how big it is, but let’s say I am younger than the country but older than a turtle.  I decided to check off a few things from my Must Do Manifesto, seeing a glacier and visiting Alaska.  For those of you that are curious, it’s almost 7 hours to get to Anchorage from Chicago. I could almost get to Europe in that time! But I know there are many people who want to go to Alaska. Well, at least I thought I knew, except for my friends and some of my family, lol.  When I asked a friend and some of my family to go, it was no, no thank you. What? Why not?

So I finally found a kid, well thankfully it was one of my kids, who actually wanted to go with me to Alaska. Well, at least they wanted to go to Alaska.  No surprise here, but me going with was probably optional for them.  However, if they wanted me to pay for the trip, it was not optional for me.  So we planned it, packed our bags and flew to Alaska. And I have to tell you it was so worth it!

I am writing this right now from Anchorage, Alaska.  I have to say that it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. The water is clear, the air is fresh, the mountains are breathtaking and the nature is everywhere. If you think going to Alaska is cold, wet and dreary, think again. It is lovely, at least in the summer.

It started as a joke,

“Hey mom what do you want to do for your birthday this year?” 

“Where is the coldest place I can go in the US to get out of this summer 90 degrees heat everyday hell?”

“Alaska, hahaha!”

“Cool, (pun intended) let’s go!”

It has turned into one of the coolest vacations I have ever taken. And I think I might do it again sometime soon. After all, I ain’t getting any younger! Just for shits and giggles,  I want to share a few fun facts about Alaska, that are interesting especially when you think about them in a socio way.

1. Alaska is the largest state in the US in terms of size but has the lowest population density.  For me that means, less people but lots of space, perfect for a socio like me!
2. There is an estimated one bear to every 21 people in Alaska. I keep saying I don’t like people much, not sure if I prefer a bear, but BYOB (bring your own bear spray).  
3. It has the highest male-to-female ratio in the United States. There are 107 men for every 100 women here. I like to have the odds in my favor when I do want to be around people.
4. Alaska has more than 10,000 active pilots.  And also the most plane crashes I hear.
5. Alaska is only 50 miles from Russia. Definitely not a plus.
6. There’s a place in Alaska where the rules of gravity don’t seem to apply; on Upper Huffman Road in Anchorage, you’ll find Gravity Hill. Here, if you put your car in neutral at the bottom of the hill, it mysteriously rolls up, instead of down. Freaky but cool.
7. Alaska has more than 100 volcanoes, and some are still active.  Alaska had the second largest earthquake ever recorded at a magnitude of 9.2 in 1964. It took out a whole neighborhood!
8. Much of Alaska is only accessible by air or water. No one is visiting unexpectedly.
9. It is estimated that there are over 100,000 glaciers and over 3 million lakes in Alaska.  Never run out of water and if you like to fish you will never run out of places to do it. Suck it Minnesota!
10. Alaska has the most missing persons in the entire US. In fact there is an area called the Alaska Triangle where over 20,000 people have disappeared since the 1970s. Lucky I’m not the murdering kind of socio…

I could go on in my true socio fashion about the ghost towns, (like Portlock, abandoned because of Bigfoot), the sayings about bears, if it’s brown lay down, if it’s black attack, if it’s white say goodnight (cause your life is over, I guess), or the mudflats (quicksand-like mud) that sucks you down while the freaky fast tide comes in to drown you before you can get unstuck. Good times!  https://www.youtube.com/shorts/DnAlt6P18tI

But I won’t!

Being the happy little socio that I am trying to be, after all this was my big birthday trip, I want to end on a positive note. I want to remember the great food, friendly people and beautiful mountains. So if Alaska is on your list, bucket, or manifesto, I highly recommend you take a trip to the “land of the midnight sun.”  I gotta tell you though, 16 hours of daylight (sunsets after 10pm) is not as fun as you would think. But, if you want to see some of the nicer fun facts about Alaska, try this list of 49 (you know being the 49^th state and all.)  https://www.insightvacations.com/blog/alaska-facts/

PS- the flight home was tummies full of cheese, large bladders and no one talking.  Happy birthday to me!