Month: April 2023

It’s not fair.  I just spent time trekking to, and freezing in a cold, distant place. All this was to fulfill my bucket list dream to see the Northern Lights in Alaska. But now, what do I see in the news? The Aurora Borealis is currently being seen in 30 US states, depending on weather conditions. A strong solar storm is taking place, giving many states much further south the unusual chance to see some colorful skies. Sightings are possible even in California, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, and Utah. In an Arizona News article (https://www.abc15.com/news/state/photos-northern-lights-visible-in-arizona-sunday-night) one Andrew Pescador happily shared his pics of sky colors near Flagstaff, and Deborah Burd shared hers of the skies over Payson.   Hmmmmm, so happy for them…..(sort of). 

Don’t get me wrong, my trip was very successful, and my Lights were beautiful (better than theirs, nah, nah, nah). But my Northern Lights sighting was not so conveniently close to home. And my travel north had some issues, as travel usually does. 

Take the flying part of getting to a viewing spot to see the Aurora. Some of you airline folk understand the joys of the standby travel that I did. There is the exhausted gratefulness of finally achieving middle seat status on some flight (after a few tries of course). How quickly do those emotions change when you realize an ugly fact. You are trapped next to one passenger who should have purchased an extra seat (you all know what I mean). And the passenger on your other side talks non-stop in a conversation that can only be described as random neural firings of the brain.  This is for-an-entire-endless-flight.

Then there was the weather- and by weather I mean the COLD. Forget that a waitress in  Alaska sweetly chirped “It’s sweater weather!” when it got up to 30 degrees one day. It was sweater weather for me, all right, along with a few other layers. 

Watching the skies outdoors at midnight in the proximity of the Arctic Circle means needing lots of those warm clothes. I had to wear stuff like long underwear, heavy socks, multiple tops and sweaters, a ski jacket, gloves, scarves and boots.

I also had hand warmers arranged in various other places on my body (not that they worked). Sorry, I am now too used to 70-and-sunny California weather, not Alaska cold. Call me bitter, but so much for Mr. Flagstaff stepping out of his house, maybe wearing his light jacket, to snap some Northern Lights pics for the newspaper.  I had to work hard- and dress with more layers than an onion– to see MY Northern Lights. And let’s not forget trying to pack all that wintery stuff in suitcases that do not make the strength and endurance of a team of Sherpas necessary. There was no “traveling light” on this trip.

There was a final laugh- for any observers, not for me. As if the puffy down ski jacket did not make me look stylish enough (think Pillsbury Doughboy), there was also my head covering called a balaclava.  A balaclava covers the head and most of the face- toasty and practical for that balmy below zero weather. But a balaclava is not chic by any stretch of even the most generous  imagination.  So my finished stylish fashion look for viewing the Northern Lights could only be dubbed as “bandit Pillsbury Doughboy.” Don’t search for this look in Vogue any time soon. 

I realized later that I was very fortunate to not be walking past any Alaska bank dressed in my bandit Pillsbury Doughboy garb.  Of course, I would have stayed warm, all the way to jail after I’d been arrested. I do not even want to imagine dressing like this in an airport. 

It’s just not fair, this solar storm that is sending the Aurora further south. But I do hope lots more people see some Northern Lights in new places- even in the wimpiest way possible. The Northern Lights ARE truly worth seeing.

(Even though my difficult Alaska Northern Lights viewing was much better, nah, nah, nah…) 

Louisville, KY was in the news recently- for all the worst reasons. There was a horrific shooting incident at a downtown bank.  An armed disgruntled employee showed up at a board meeting, wreaking havoc and death before being killed by police.

This awful Louisville news hurt my heart for several reasons. The pain and loss of this tragedy was awful, but additionally the violent news did not at all match the fond memories I have of that city. Like many US cities, Louisville has some unpleasant history and crime to overcome. But I found today’s “Derby City” to be a hospitable creative place. When I visited Louisville, its residents were pleasant, helpful, and so obviously proud to share their hometown with visitors. 

I travel enough to know that such qualities are not commonly found amongst the residents of all cities. Even though I was just a typical tourist doing all the typical touristy things, that lovely attitude was everywhere. During my whole time there, I had nothing but positive personal interactions. This ranged from my visits to the giant baseball bat at the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, to the inspiring Muhammad Ali Center, to the artsy Stoneware & Co. store filled with beautiful Louisville Stoneware.

As a side note, when I travel, there are no rules with my diet- I simply try to taste local specialties in the places where they originate. Therefore, in Louisville, that meant that I sampled their famed “Hot Brown” sandwich at the elegant Brown Hotel (turning 100 in October 2023).

The Hot Brown sandwich was born there in the Roaring 20’s, in the wee hours of the morning. Weary dancers were arriving to the Brown Hotel restaurant from the ballroom, hungry and clamoring for a wonderful culinary finish to their night of dancing. Chef Fred Schmitt wanted to offer something more than usual breakfast fare. His creation, dubbed the Hot Brown, was a big hit with the hungry revelers. I have since learned that the Hot Brown has become an ultimate comfort food. Louisvillians still seek it out, no matter how far from Louisville they roam. Even Chick-fil-A in Hapesville, GA has their own chicken version of a Hot Brown. Now I understand why.

How can I describe my first taste of this decadent delight? The Hot Brown is an open-faced turkey sandwich- an immediate winner for people like me that love white meat turkey. This sandwich uses juicy thick sliced turkey breast meat, arranged on toasted crustless white bread points. The Mournay sauce that then covers these layers is made from a creamy buttery roux accented with Pecorino Romano cheese and a pinch of nutmeg. Sliced Roma tomatoes are arranged around the base of the turkey and toast. The dish is then put under the broiler until the cheese is bubbly and brown. A final sprinkle of paprika and parsley, a criss-cross of crispy bacon slices placed on top of that cheese-and-turkey goodness- and your Hot Brown is ready to savor.

So I still hold onto my fond memories of Louisville, culinary and otherwise, different from the anomaly of today’s news.  One day I will return again to Louisville’s Brown Hotel. First I’ll sip on an “Ali’s Smash” bourbon in their ornate Lobby Bar.  Not only will I be surrounded by its elegant Old World decor, but also the elites and celebrities attending the famous Kentucky Derby horse race. Everyone- myself included- will be pleasingly attired in fancy spring pastels. The ladies will all be wearing their requisite over-the-top Kentucky Derby hats, decked with flowers, bows, ribbons, and feathers. At some point I will enjoy my crispy, creamy, tangy Hot Brown sandwich, perhaps partaking of it in the Brown Hotel’s sophisticated wood-paneled English Grill room.  I will undoubtedly over-do afterwards with a decadent dessert of chocolate-and-walnut custard Derby Pie.

This is the Louisville that should be highlighted. It is a city with a core culture of hospitality and celebratory spirit, showcased by its delicious decadent culinary creations, and characterized by all things bourbon, equestrian, and bluegrass.