A Penny For My Thoughts

I'm Going To Go Back There Someday

By Paul Wein

As customary with my recent experiences with air travel – I am once again in an airport, this time in Anchorage, Alaska waiting for my next connecting flight to Minneapolis. And considering that I have three hours until that plane takes off – I figured I would pull out the old laptop and look at all of the pictures I took while I was in Juneau – and remember the place I just left.

The more I look at the things I saw with my own eyes over the last eight days – the more amazed I am that I was actually there. From the town, to the glaciers, to the woods, to the natives – both human and not – coming to Alaska was one of the best things I have ever done.

They say that the key to any vacation is to go somewhere that is far away from what you are used to and is entirely stress free – if that is the case – then Alaska is the place that everyone should go on their next vacation. The views are breathtaking, the activities are endless, the food is phenomenal – and the people are the most wonderful I have encountered in my travels.

In New York, tourists are looked upon as an annoyance, always stopping right in front of you to look at a map or to take a picture – but Juneau is a tourist town, welcoming at least three City-sized cruise ships every day full of hundreds of curious tourists from all over the world ready to see the sites – and spend a few bucks.

But even though the town of Juneau is built on tourism, the friends that I made there did not treat me like one of the other “foreigners” that frequent their town on a daily basis. Instead of welcoming me, they included me. Instead of showing me directions, they showed me a good time. And instead of thanking me for coming – they welcomed me back whenever I wanted.

Now that the second of my two vacations is over – Lord knows when I will be able to go on a vacation again. But until I do, I will thank God that I was able to visit one of the most majestic places on Earth the last time I took a vacation – Juneau, Alaska.

And who knows – maybe my next vacation will be the same place as my last one – because at least at some point in my life – I’m going to go back there someday.

"This looks familiar, vaguely familiar.
Almost unreal, yet, it's too soon to feel yet,
close to my soul, and yet so far away.
I'm going to go back there someday.
Sun rises, night falls, sometimes the sky calls.
Is that a song there, and do I belong there?
I've never been there, but I know the way.
I'm going to go back there someday.
Come and go with me, it's more fun to share.
We'll both be completely at home in midair.
We're flyin', not walkin', on featherless wings.
We can hold onto love, like invisible strings.
There's not a word yet, for old friends who've just met.
Part Heaven, part space - or have I found my place?
You can just visit, but I plan to stay.
I'm going to go back there someday."
The Muppets - I'm Going To Go Back There Someday