Hickeys & Halibut.
Is that a… hickey?
A… what?
Looking down in horror, I realized that the mark on my upper chest did, in fact, resemble that of a hickey.
Unfortunately, my life is not that exciting, and the blemish depicted a far more realistic and very Alaskan culprit:
A scabbed over mosquito bite.
A bite that I discovered the other day as my sister was taking pictures of me. After having swatted at what my sister thought “might be a mosquito”, I went inside and promptly began scratching. Sure enough, as I was later perusing through the photos, I noticed this dark little mark on my chest.
Zooming closer and closer, I found that the bloody mosquito was present on my chest front and center for all to see.
Funny story, right? The kind of story that probably captures empathy from fellow Alaskans who have likely experienced the same thing (and probably in worse spots than the neck!).
Well then I was at the Yoga Yurt, finishing up a rather strenuous core class, and I overheard a conversation regarding these evident dents (ha!) in the instructor’s Hydro Flask.
Apparently, she was out fishing in Ninilchik just off the shore a few days ago and instead of reeling in her typical 15-20 pound halibut, she managed to bring in a monster 55 pounder.
Without a bonker on board (a bonker is typically a wooden bat used to... stop the fish from living), the only heavy object available was her Hydro Flask.
Hence, the dented water bottle.
I told, and have been telling, that story to everyone: friends, family, and even strangers, because I believe it’s such an awesome Alaskan tale that deserves to be told.
Like my mosquito hickey (though not quite as cool), it was an experience that needed a platform to be shared.
See, it all keeps coming full circle back to my idea for a magazine, for creating this outlet that enables women to share these stories with the world.
Hickeys and halibuts are just two of countless other stories out there that should be shared with others.
This medium that’s in my head that I’m trying to create (a magazine) is one that centers around storytelling. It revolves around the idea that if I can create a place where people can express their adventurous, brave, and brilliant tales, it would inspire others to tell their stories as well.
Whether or not that includes mosquito hickeys doesn’t matter. What matters is all of us embracing our stories and sharing our individual and unique selves to the women like me who would love to hear them.
I know that my stories aren’t the same as that of the ‘but bonker (which may well be my new name for her because it’s EPIC), but her tale energized me because in my eyes, she was this badass fisherwoman who oh-so-casually wielded her water bottle to detain a halibut.
And her story inspired me, just like I hope my stories and experiences inspire you.
(or at least makes you chuckle)
Do you see the mosquito? Tell me you see it!
