Why? Read on and you will learn

In the interest of full disclosure, I have never been in Billings MT. It merely symbolizes a huge change in my life. I am moving from Chicago to Fairbanks AK, and though I would have loved to drive there, my 1997 Jeep would have died somewhere around LaCrosse WI. So I am flying to Fairbanks to start my life over. I leave behind my a life that could best be described as a mixed bag of success and failure. All self-inflicted. If you get nothing out of reading this blog, understand that I am not a finger pointer. I have had wonderful things happen to me that I take pride in. And I have had shitty things happen to me that I take responsibility for. It is as simple as that. Oh yeah why Billings? Well anyone who knows me knows that since I got my first drivers license in 1977 my one goal was to drive the USA coast to coast. So you know, since no one goes to Alaska without either WANTING to go there, or has made a serious error in navigation, my fictionional cross- country driving trip should have landed me in Seattle or some other west coast haven. I have a new job waiting for me, along with a pair of very supportive cousins. I never dreamed I would leave this area, and there are many realtionships that will be affected, but frankly, thats none of your business. Maybe as this blog evolves, so will my desire to share details. In the meantime I will leave you with this. Alex.....in a way I hope you understand, this move is for you. You know how I feel about you, and visa versa. Matt....thanks for being a better big brother than I ever gave you credit for. Mis.....if everone had a sister like you, this world would truely be a better place. What I owe you cant be measured, and I will never be able to repay you. My plan to do so is to be a success and redeem your faith in me. I can't even the score with money, so I will do it with actions. Linda, Brent, Scott & Rachelle.....your love and support has meant so much to me and I thank you. There remains one name missing from this list. She knows who she is and she knows what she means to me. If this move accomplishes nothing else, I want to help remove fears that she will choke to death in the middle of the night so she can streamline her communications. Ms. Broctune, and for now thats how I plan to refer to her, I love you. In closing this opening entry, future posts wont be so long ( Promise ) and will be a mish-mash of my oddesey to Alaska, the re-building of a promising life, reflections and rememberances of the past, triumphs and tribulations in the present, and the hopes and.....another word that starts with H, for the future. I am a 47 year old silly smart-ass who has a 3rd or 4th chance ( I lose count ) to make good on what everyone one once sure was gonna be a doozy of a life. I will try to be honest with the reader. I will accept critique and/or praise. Other names of those who have shaped my life will appear in the future. If I didnt mention you here, its only because I am starting to get bored with my own ramblings. Thanks for listening