Notes from the Landslide

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96 Keith Perkins August 24 at 10:17pm “Love is not written on paper for paper can be erased. Nor can it be etched on stone, for stone can be broken. But it is inscribed on a heart and there it shall remain forever.” ~~ Anonymous ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I had the humble fortune to spend the evening with Mr. and Mrs. Diaz at their home, with my sons, Kori, Danielle, KariMae, and Kori’s bud Kelly from college. It was a quiet gathering of the Diaz family, relatives, and their friends. I appreciated the opportunity to spend some quality time with Mr. Diaz outside, in the sun, talking as Dads. Mostly me listening to his reflections of fatherhood for these two. It struck me time and time again, as I listened to Mr. Diaz, at how heavy the heart is, and will be for a while.....as we talked about his two sons, my two sons, and fatherhood.......the things we do as parents, as dads, to help them prepare for life.....and then, when it is time, to let them go be their “selves” in growing up in life. I appreciated listening to a similar perspective of being a dad to these sets of brothers, his and mine. He talked about how he raised them to have respect, to listen and learn, to get ready for life. And at the same time, enjoy living life to its fullest with no regrets. To live it such that there would be no looking back, no second guessing, just appreciating how they lived life fully. He looked down below us at my two sons and talked about the friendship they had with his sons, about allllll those guys who his sons hung out with. He quietly smiled at who Elmer and Uli were and are - the 10 decibal video games, the laughing, arguing and making up as brothers, the inseperable bond they had for each other. He was overwhelmed with the community turning to help him, his wife, and his family in this moment. I gently suggested to
him that it was a reflection of who his sons were and are....and a reflection of how he and his wife, their mom - raised these two, such that they touched so many corners of Sitka, with their electric, fun, smiling personalities...... It was a thoughtful, reflective, quiet conversation he and I had. Fatherhood. The thought I quoted fit this moment. Love cannot go away from a parent’s, a dad’s view of his sons. In this moment of loss, we both had the same sense - that love is truly in the heart and mind and will never go away. Interestingly, we kept pointing to our hearts during our reflective conversation. It truly is inscribed on the heart and it truly will remain there forever. I enjoyed immensly listening and talking with Mr. Diaz.......realizing and agreeing that they will never be gone from him, nor my sons from me, as that Love - who they are - is inscribed on the hearts forever.........as the family, relatives, and friends showed up.......and we enjoyed the rest of the evening with all...... Laughter, conversation, a few tears, lots of hugs, fun with little ones, carried the evening.......and when it was time to go.....I enjoyed that there were many handshakes, hugs, and it ended with a warm embrace with Mom, Mrs. Diaz as she smiled and shared hugs with Nicholaas and Anthony....and then as she hugged me and we looked at these two sons of mine.....she said that they were her two sons now.....and that we would share them, together......parents, always. *warm sigh*..........it was a good evening at the Diaz home and I suspect, as I have come to know them over time....I clearly see why Elmer and Uli are Elmer and Uli.......they have a wonderful Mom and Dad......Love inside the home.....something that lasts forever...... 97
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Notes From The Landslide
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Dedicated to the families of Elmer
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5 of what showed up on Sitka Chatte
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and evacuations of buildings and ne
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9 Chris Harshey, a carpenter who wa
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11 Until it was cleared away, the s
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13 Samantha Cox August 18 at 4:42pm
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15 “*** Granite Creek Road. I hav
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17 “I don’t have room for peopl
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19 Shanthee Acker August 18 at 7:09
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21 Keith Perkins August 18 at 11:37
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23 is always hope. And tonight, whe
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25 Lily Herwald August 19 at 1:53pm
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27 Melissa McCrehin August 19 at 6:
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29 Vienna L Vaden August 19 at 10:1
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slimmest of hopes..........and yet
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33 Stortz was working in his capaci
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35 Miller said water coming down th
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Fate said the public can help the d
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of Uli and Elmer, ready to work in
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41 Turnie Wright August 20 at 7:43a
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43 Nuliatchaiq Dawn August 20 at 12
Page 45 and 46: 45 Jennifer Jarvis Barnette August
Page 47 and 48: 47 Naomi Bargmann August 21 at 12:4
Page 49 and 50: 49 Koali Pontual Thorne August 21 a
Page 51 and 52: 51 Shanna Vetter Tadic August 20 at
Page 53 and 54: 53 Kimberly Smith August 20 at 8:50
Page 55 and 56: 55 Fred Moe August 20 at 10:12am We
Page 57 and 58: *Grace Harbor (747-5706) and the Fi
Page 59 and 60: 59 then swallowed some houses, some
Page 61 and 62: 61 Holly Renner August 21 at 3:22pm
Page 63 and 64: 63 a mountainside above a new subdi
Page 65 and 66: 65 coming weather was cause for con
Page 67 and 68: 67 primary goal was to open it up s
Page 69 and 70: 69 Debi Terry August 22 at 9:25am I
Page 71 and 72: 71 Evadne Allott-Wright August 22 a
Page 73 and 74: 73 donations are being accepted by
Page 75 and 76: 75 “The outpouring has been incre
Page 77 and 78: 77 Maite LRial August 22 at 10:58am
Page 79 and 80: 79 Hailey Barger August 23 at 12:49
Page 81 and 82: 81 Carla Whiteside at Sugar Chic Au
Page 83 and 84: 83 Nancy Davis August 24 at 9:25pm
Page 85 and 86: 85 Karen Howard August 24 at 10:26p
Page 87 and 88: 87 Tamie Parker Song August 24 at 6
Page 89 and 90: 89 excavators started work early th
Page 91 and 92: 91 “Every day that you’ve got o
Page 93 and 94: 93 Sarah Pies Mahoskey August 24 at
Page 95: 95 Christine Golliver Silvanio Augu
Page 99 and 100: 99 Jenny St John August 24 at 3:42p
Page 101 and 102: 101 Cynthia Morrigan August 25 at 3
Page 103 and 104: 103 many Sitkans have been stepping
Page 105 and 106: 105 church, reminding me of the sup
Page 107 and 108: 107 Landslide First Item At Assembl
Page 109 and 110: Kaagwaantaan clan in Klukwan.) 109
Page 111 and 112: struck. The body of Elmer Diaz was
Page 113 and 114: 113 The slide cut off water and pow
Page 115 and 116: 115 Clara Smith August 27 at 1:47am
Page 117 and 118: 117 Counseling Is Offered In Wake O
Page 119 and 120: it’s a good idea to keep an eye o
Page 121 and 122: 121 “Knowing you need help and yo
Page 123 and 124: 123 months before his high school g
Page 125 and 126: 125 and laid down in the muskeg, ki
Page 127 and 128: 127 Elmer Diaz, Ulises Diaz: Brothe
Page 129 and 130: 129 Family was central in both thei
Page 131 and 132: 131 Gov Says Sitka Slide Official S
Page 133 and 134: 133 were a direct result of a decla
Page 135 and 136: 135 Afterword By Samantha Cox The d
Page 137 and 138: come in and arrange for lodging. Bu
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