Every morning in Medford, Wis., no matter what the weather, our Alaska Husky Avu and I walk about a mile to get the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel at the nearest convenience store. Sometimes it means walking through some big drifts, brutal winds and slippery streets. But we make it and carefully wrap the paper in a plastic bag, under my coat.
Avu doesn't mind since she gets treats from a tire shop, coffee place and the library. Sometimes she has to pull me through a high drift, but we are both careful not to lose our treasured newspaper.
It made me remember the trials and tribulations of getting the daily newspaper in Barrow -- especially back when the printed newspaper was the only choice.
No road connections anywhere to deliver a big bale of such newspapers from Anchorage and Fairbanks, so the only alternative was to fly them up on daily jet flights.
The way that worked was that the papers were loaded in from the larger cities. Then they were flown to Barrow and quickly made available to several stores. Of course bad weather conditions or mechanical problems with a plane, and the papers would stay put. Sometimes they would not make the plane in time.
When the papers did arrive in Barrow, then staff from the stores would have to go and pick them up. And in 30 below zero temperatures, the priority might be to get the perishables, etc. so papers would have to wait.
My wife Chris and I would get used to running into the same folks in the various local outlets -- sharing our wonder if and when there would be daily papers, or even some from yesterday.
I'm sure everyone in the process worked hard so that Chris would get her crossword puzzle, other games and a little Dear Abby. And I always wanted the latest in professional and amateur sports. And a certain amount of political news, etc. And the comics!
Once the actual paper was safely in our home it was so nice to cuddle up on the sofa, with our two Huskies nearby on the floor. Then carefully going through the sections.
"Hey, hey -- what's the latest with the Chicago Cubs?" Also university and high school sports. Maybe some humor from the legislature in Juneau. Or even some accomplishments!! All in the paper!
When Chris and I visited Barrow on our 25th wedding anniversary, we checked around, but could not find a daily paper. Must all be online.
Somehow that seems too easy, given the history of printed daily papers. But who can argue with progress?
But now in my early 70s, I'm committed to the printed daily paper (in addition to Alaska Dispatch of course.) And the Arctic Sounder. We always want to keep in touch!
Have to go now. Time to finish today's Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (printed copy) before Avu's evening walk.
Earl Finkler is a former resident of Barrow and host of the Morning Show on KBRW Barrow -- serving the North Slope. He now lives in Medford, Wis., with his wife Chris and former Barrow Husky "Avu."
The views expressed in the above commentary are the writer's own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch. Alaska Dispatch welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, e-mail commentary(at)alaskadispatch.com.