“She's just playing a trick on us. This is just an Alaska Young Prank Extraordinaire. It's Alaska being Alaska, funny and playful and not knowing when or how to put on the brakes.”

“No," I said. And maybe it was only because Alaska couldn't hit the brakes and I couldn't hit the accelerator.”

“It was as if we'd only been gone the weekend. Or had we been gone a lifetime. Part of that was because when you've lived in Alaska, living in other places seems easier, less challenging, less threatening. Alaska had enlarged each of us. No one is ever the same after coming back from Alaska.”

“But why Alaska?' I asked her.'Well, later, I found out what it means. It's from an Aleut word, Alyeska. It means 'that which the sea breaks against,' and I love that. But at the time, I just saw Alaska up there. And it was big, just like I wanted to be.”

“Suicide by Alaska.”

“But three cheers for Alaska, they've got 24-hour hot fucking bear delivery. Note to self: Nuke Alaska.”