1000 Cranes is one month old!

I began this blog one month ago today. We are now five weeks from the tragedy that inspired the 1000 Cranes for Alaska project. 

Thursday night, I had dinner with Tina, my videographer friend who was with me during my residency in St. Michael. While she and I were busy catching up, I caught myself saying: "Truth be told, I wish I could quit all of my other jobs and just do this." It's a logistical impossibility to be sure, but this desire to be single minded, singly focused, is one I often wrestle with during my hectic life here in Anchorage. It is, in large part, what sends me running off to remote corners of the universe so frequently, in order that I might recharge and reboot.

Through my training as an Alexander Technique teacher, I have spent years noticing habits of use in my body that are no longer serving me. The study requires that students actively pursue an intense de-cluttering of their innate coordination in order to quiet the noise of our own nervous systems. By "tuning" our bodies so that they more closely resemble our original organization, (through a process my teacher likes to call "upgrading your software to match your hardware"), and by utilizing the hands on bodywork practices of the technique, Alexander teachers are able to "hear" the current "short circuits" of their clients'/students' nervous systems. Teachers then share this information, such that their students may begin to make informed use of it, and slough off habits that are no longer useful, or hindering ease of use in the body, perhaps causing chronic pain, even acute use-related injuries.  It has been a life-altering study, one which has opened the door to further explorations of several holistic methodologies, including Zen Buddhism and Native Science. 

However, in my day to day city life, I am consistently surrounded by large amounts of "static on the line" from any number of distraction-worthy sources: jobs, projects, acquaintances, debts, gossip, politics, overflowing laundry, you name it. I am constantly in motion from one place to the next, one job to the next, one task to the next, zooming past numerous piles of theoretical and physical clutter that pepper a hectic, sometimes harried, life. 

Anyone who knows me well, for instance, also knows that my car is a chronic mess on wheels,  a suburban gypsy cart, further evidence of my thither and yon existence. One single suitcase and a remote rural destination feels like freedom, and I am grateful for these much-needed clean slates. Each trip renews my spirit and helps remind me of who I am when I'm not reacting to a fire hose of chronic stimuli. Hardly three weeks back from St. Michael and the noise and clutter of my life has already begun to overwhelm me. Perhaps I am still readjusting, but either way, in just a few weeks, thankfully, I will be heading out into the painted deserts of Santa Fe, New Mexico, to a place called Ghost Ranch where Georgia O'Keefe used to live and paint. I know it doesn't make much sense geographically, but I am looking forward to this chance to feel closer to the spirit of the village, and back "home" to what feels like a more authentic version of myself. It seems that only in these quiet spaces can I also become quiet enough to hear what the universe, and all those who have come before me, have to teach me. These lessons arrive in whispers, in the form of inspired thoughts that come into my mind and are reflected in my surroundings, usually in the natural world. Every so often, as in the case of 1000 Cranes for Alaska, I share what I have learned with the people around me, such that they may be able to make use of the information. 

Speaking of which, 1000 Cranes for Alaska is continuing to create new ripples in our community. Yesterday, while rewarding my young theater students with some much-deserved time in the sunshine, I was approached by a representative of the Girl Scouts of Alaska, who will soon be joining our story. 

Last week I met with Kathy McCue from the Alaska Native Medical Center, and had the chance to tour their facility. I particularly enjoyed hearing about the forward thinking, holistic philosophies that were influential in the building's original design. The ANMC functions simultaneously as an incredible gallery space, chock full of some of the best Alaskan Native artwork our state has to offer. There is a tangible sense of community woven into the architecture and emanating from the staff. I am currently hard at work on a poster design for 1000 Cranes that will hang in the ER alongside a station for people to make cranes and join our effort. These cranes will also be on display in the ER, a healing reminder of the care taken on behalf of loved ones, here and beyond.

Our 1000 Cranes for Alaska facebook page has seen some fresh activity thanks to the generous efforts of Viva Voom Brr-lesque, a beloved, local burlesque and variety review. I have worked with this outstanding troupe for a number of years, and in our most recent show, Kamala Derry Stiner, the group's founder and emcee, (stage name: "Lola Pistola"), asked me to speak to the audience about the project. The audience was incredibly receptive, especially considering the fairly serious tone of the announcement in an otherwise raucously entertaining show. I provided crane folding instructions and origami paper for the patrons, and new cranes have begun to pop up once again on our page.

The Boys and Girls Club of Eagle River also joined our story, thanks to Viva Voom hostess, Jennifer Brown.

And just this weekend at the local concert of renowned singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile, my videographer, Tina Scott, had concert patrons folding cranes to pass the time while they waited in line for the start of the show.

This weekend I attended our local Anchorage Saturday Market, and stopped by the booth for The Snowy Owl, a small business owned and operated by UAA theater student, Chloe Akers. Chloe handcrafts fur baby booties and other adorable tiny fur products. She also provides origami paper and a copy of the story of 1000 Cranes at her booth to both educate her largely out of state customer base with regard to the suicide crisis in our state, and offer them a way to get involved during their brief visits.  

Outstanding efforts such as Jennifer's, Tina's, Chloe's, and those of so many others have helped 1000 Cranes for Alaska reach a new recent milestone with over 500 "likes", or followers, to our facebook site. I am so proud to see the creative leadership of my many inspiring and enterprising friends who are making a measurable and continual impact in our growing community. 


In keeping with that theme, and to commemorate the one month anniversary of the weblog, I have included some of my favorite photos from our facebook site. Feel free to check out the rest and add to our campaign at http://on.fb.me/1000cranesforAK