FROM THE EDITOR.

• Author: Anderson, Tasha

Recently I was at Bagoy's in Anchorage, acting as a fly on the wall as Junior Achievement of Alaska President Flora Teo interviewed owners Chanda and Randy Mines in preparation for the Junior Achievement Hall of Fame in January 2022. It was a memorable Thursday--Veterans Day, and Anchorage had been blanketed overnight with several inches of snow, the first real snowfall of the season. Before the interview, as Rick Mallars, president and CEO of Upper One Studios, was setting up AV equipment, we were all making the small talk that professionals who have disconnected from their phones and are waiting around for something to start make: the weather, personal but not-too-personal anecdotes, interesting shows and books. Amid that casual and essential connection building, Teo mentioned how unexpected, large snowfalls are just one thing that connects all Alaskans.

For better or worse, we all deal with the weather together. And earthquakes. And being at the end of the supply chain.

I believe there are no casual Alaskans. Anyone who calls themselves Alaskan loves this place in a way that every other Alaskan understands. Maybe I prefer to dipnet and you like to hunt, or my favorite trail is paved and yours isn't even on a map, or I've earmarked boats to buy while you spend the weekend finding a qualified mechanic for your bush plane--the details don't matter when you and I cross paths getting gas in Glennallen as we set out on an adventure or pack it up to head back. We're all home.

One of the things I love about Alaskans is...