*FLAILS!!*

[glacier_kitty]

I was right, the bookstore was SUPER busy today! Bill is still sick, so I was the only one at the register (good thing I'm still "refreshed" after the holidays haha). The guy who donates records put a lot of new ones out today, texted the regulars who always buy vinyls, and we sold a TON of those. Lots of donations, lots of sales..we did $800 something, a very good day! A customer came in asking for books about the Karluk expedition, where Stefansson abandoned the boat because he was bored, the ship sank and a a bunch of people died. I have read a bunch of books about the Karluk over the years (The Ice Master, The Karluk's Last Voyage, etc), so I thought it was cool she was asking about them. Then she said "I have the descendant of the last survivor of the Karluk voyage with me, she's in the car." Wait..WHAT?!? There was an Inuit family on the ship, the parents were named Kuraluk and Kiruk (spelling differs depending on who you talk to) and they ARE HER GRANDPARENTS!! They had two kids, Qaualuk and Ruth Makpii/Mugpi Ipalook, and Qaualuk was her mother!! Her aunt, Ruth/Mugpi died in 2008 at 97 years old, and was the last survivor of the expedition to die. Her grandparents definitely helped the expedition members survive..one thing that has stayed with me is that they chewed reindeer hides to make them soft. I've known this customer for years, and had no idea she was friends with someone with connections to the Karluk (she said for 20 years at least!). I asked her if she could ask the lady to come in, and she did, and learned her name was Mabel Kudralook. She remembers her grandparents and their stories. That is AMAZING and I was getting chills hearing her talk about it! I was starstruck haha and got a picture with her!

She grew up in Utqiagvik (formerly Barrow). She was very nice lol. So cool!! Alaska is definitely a small big state!

Here's a pic of her family:

Nice! There are other pics online, like Mugpi looking very happy. It was definitely an eventful day at the bookstore!!

Today's Dictionary.com word of the day is "Panglossian"..I'm pretty sure that was a Biz Bee word at some point lol


I think that was Wicked: For Good. I didn't like it as much as the first one, but it was still entertaining

1. Describe three moments from the holidays that you wish to remember
2. What's one thing that you hope to achieve or accomplish this year?
3. What is your family's Christmas story (your traditions, rituals, etc)?
4. Describe your bedtime ritual
5. What are three things that bring you joy in life?
6. What was the last movie you watched, and did you like it?
7. Is there any hurt or pain lingering in your heart right now?
8. What song(s) or tune(s) do you find yourself singing unconsciously?
9. What do you miss the most about being young(er)?
10. What's a good book that you have read recently?
11. Describe a moment from today that you want to remember always
12. Who was the last person to make you laugh? What did they do or say?
13. Describe one recent dream that you've had
14. Have you ever felt trapped or suffocated?
15. What is your favorite meal to cook, and why?
16. When does your family usually take down holiday decorations? Who does it?
17. What happened today at 10am?
18. Where were you born? Have you been back there since?
19. Write down five things about your mother that you are most grateful for
20. What's your relationship like with your siblings?
21. How do you feel about the dark?
22. When you were little, where was your favorite place to hide?
23. What is your current go-to outfit, and why?
24. Describe what dinnertimes were like when you were little
25. Is there something that you'd like to change about your life right now?
26. How do you usually respond to conflict and confrontation?
27. Who are the people you spend the most time with these days?
28. How are you feeling today?
29. What are three things from this past month that have been hard?
30. What are three things from this past month that you've been happy about?
31. What is your favorite thing about weekends right now?

Comments

Wow!

[ysabetwordsmith]

It's so exciting to connect with a bit of history like that.