New Neighbor, a Black Bear?

Abandoning his 20-year-old sports car which suffered from a serious oil leak at the San Francisco International Airport was Jeff’s first real step outside his home town. He decided to embark on a flight to the capital of America’s last frontier, a city which he researched years ago during a grade school homework assignment. After paying cash for his one-way ticket, he could only count on what remained in his wallet, a mere five hundred dollars.

This freedom to get away from it all unfolded only after the brute realization that he and Maria were just no longer good for one another. Breaking up spontaneously like this was a numinous experience, a liberation he had never dreamed of before. At the same time, it was heart-wrenching to admit that love was not enough to overcome the insurmountable differences arising between two young persons so attracted to one another. If only Maria had taken to heart the sound advice of first lady Nancy Reagan: “just say no”, they might have been able to weather the storm together.

The first leg of the trip landed at Seattle where Jeff was to benefit from a blessing in disguise. You see, the airline was offering a free round-trip ticket voucher to anyone who would volunteer to give up their seat on the now overbooked connecting flight. Jeff, in no rush and who was just now embarking on this uncharted adventure, accepted the incentive to continue to his destination on a later flight scheduled to leave in just a few hours more!

It was a late August Sunday afternoon when the aircraft’s pilot performed the expected smooth landing at Juneau International Airport. Because of the State of Alaska’s northerly position on the globe, the sun was still very high in the sky this time of year. Jeff travelled light this day, not having even brought his toothbrush. The total of eight hours in the sky had now taken him 1,500 miles from home. Jeff was the first person off the plane to summon a taxi, which took him downtown during an economical 15-minute fare.

The foremost thing on Jeff’s mind was to rent a room for the night. And before his money ran out, he would need to quickly find work somewhere or other. Having not researched the local accommodations beforehand and without having the energy to run around town aimlessly, Jeff checked into the first place he found, The Alaskan Hotel. This well-preserved Victorian building on South Franklin Street was erected during the Alaska Gold Rush and would have to make do for now. After purchasing a few bathroom items at the pharmacy and grabbing a bite to eat, Jeff called it a day. The bed, linens, and furnishings appeared to be newish and plenty comfortable.

After breakfast on Monday morning, Jeff took a short walk to the local branch of the state employment service. His last job was making deliveries of cash to commercial banks via an armored truck. When Jeff spied a job announcement of “bank teller” posted on the bulletin board, it naturally caught his attention. Jeff’s Great-aunt Gertrude had tutored him in arithmetic even before kindergarten, so Jeff felt he had the skill set and integrity necessary to work efficiently and correctly with any and all financial transactions. He filled out the appropriate form to discuss his interest in that work offer with an office staff employee. After a brief wait, arrangements were made over the telephone with Doug, the credit union manager, to interview Jeff the following day.

As he checked out of his hotel room, Jeff had faith that things were already looking up for him here in Juneau. But before he left, he asked the front desk clerk if, by any chance, the hotel offered a weekly rate for a longer stay? The answer was “no”, but the same gentleman suggested Jeff might have better luck at another place just around the corner. Jeff headed right over to the Imperial Bar on Front Street.

The Imperial, established in 1891, was known as the oldest operating bar in the State of Alaska. When Jeff introduced himself to Sandy, the bartender, he was not yet aware of the history of the structure and its business reputation as a dive bar. Sandy explained to Jeff that the two upper stories of the building were rooms for rent. The only room available at the moment had plumbing installed only to accommodate a small wash basin. Any resident living there would need to share a shower and toilet located in the hall. When Jeff found the rate was less than a hundred dollars a week, he made arrangements with Sandy to move right in!

The deal for the room was completed about noontime. Before Jeff could even walk upstairs to inspect his new home, one of the few local gals in the bar offered to buy him a beer. Jeff was both surprised and suspicious at the offer, but politely accepted the come-on. Jeff soon forgot whatever chit-chat took place between them while sipping his drink. But he will never forget what happened in the end. When the conversation concluded, the girl’s true intentions came to light when she asked Jeff for cab fare. Jeff did not want to upset the natives, so he gave the lady a twenty dollar bill. She left (never to be seen from again). That turned out to be a pretty expensive beer after all! At the time, Jeff did not recognize the bartender or his new “drinking partner” as native Alaskans of the Tlingit tribe. Later he would learn they are well-known for their woodworking skills, especially with respect for carving the legendary local totem poles.

Jeff found his bare room had no refrigerator, kitchen, or microwave; furnished with only a bed and a chair. For the moment, he could not afford any more restaurant meals either. He walked over to the local “Super Bear” market on Mendenhall Mall Road to find some items to eat that he could store without refrigeration. He decided on some baby food in the glass jars with the twist-off lids and soda crackers. Then he purchased a new pair of slacks, shirt, and tie to wear for his job interview the following day.

Tuesday’s interview with the manager and assistant manager (Cindy) at the credit union could not have gone better. Jeff was asked to report for work and training the following day (Wednesday). Jeff’s room had no television or telephone, so after the interview he walked over to the public library on Marine Way to do some reading. During this first visit he picked up the newspaper and looked over a few magazines. In the coming weeks, he would take some books back to his room to read during the evening hours.

The first day training as a bank teller was stressful. Leif, the young man (head teller) performing the orientation was charming and easy going. By the way, Leif is a Norse name meaning “heir” or “descendant”. The pleasant credit union members were all Alaska State employees who worked in the large government building across the street on Willoughby Avenue. Thanks be to God, by the time Jeff’s cash on hand had run out, it was payday!

Jeff was taken aback the first time he encountered a black bear roaming a downtown street at night. He was informed this species of bear were rather small and habitually raided the garbage cans while leaving the human population alone. Nonetheless, Jeff wanted nothing to do with this aspect of summer Juneau “nightlife”. Fortunately, the larger and more unpredictable brown bears reside on nearby Admiralty Island.

When his fellow co-workers at the credit union discussed seeing the Aurora Borealis the evening before, Jeff felt left out of the exciting conversation. His room at the Imperial had a window, but it lacked a view of the skyline. Regardless, it might be difficult to see the Northern Lights clearly from downtown thanks to the bright street lights.

The second month in Juneau, a larger room which included a small kitchen and a private bath became available just down the hall at the sane Imperial Bar. Jeff was ready and willing to pay a higher weekly rate for more amenable lodgings and moved right over. Sometime later, one weekend afternoon, Jeff heard a loud rustling sound coming from another room down the hall. He walked over to investigate. The noise was due to a lady cleaning out the inside of the room with a snow shovel. However, the room was not filled with snow. The room was filled with hundreds, maybe thousands of empty beer cans! Every square inch of floor space was covered in aluminum beer cans to a height of a foot or so. The bathtub was filled with empty cans also. How could anyone walk, let alone live, under such conditions? Safe to say the last resident living there had a drinking problem.

Utilities were included in the rooms rented at the Imperial. Winters were the most uncomfortable time of the year indoors, but not for the reason you may be thinking. It was actually so warm inside that Jeff had to leave a window partially open even in the month of December. You see, individual rooms did not have a thermostat and it seemed the heating system (wherever it was controlled) was constantly in operation during cold spells.

What happened to the voucher Jeff had been given from the airline for a free round trip anywhere the airline serviced? Well, Jeff flew back home to California on vacation without having given any prior notice to his family. They had no clue of his upcoming visit. When he walked in the door to see his parents, they were in for a shocking, but sweet surprise!

Back in Juneau, eventually a family on the uppermost floor of the Imperial who lived in the largest room in the building was planning to move on. They offered this “penthouse suite” to Jeff, who would have been amiss not to accept such an opportunity to upgrade. Not luxurious by any definition of the term, but the most spacious room available nonetheless. Another increase in rent was required, but still well within Jeff’s budget.

Jeff’s four years living in Juneau became an exploit of sorts and a pleasure. Not everyone is willing to fly to Alaska on a whim with literally just the clothes on their back. But then again, thirty-five years ago it was a whole different world we lived in. Even today, in order to insure a successful relocation in a faraway place, it’s best to bring plenty of ambition, confidence, and adaptability rather than just pack a suitcase full of garments and bathroom necessities.