Today, as I walked through Fred Meyers, I worked to maintain at least 10 feet of distance from fellow customers, doing my part to socially distance. I will admit it, I was slightly startled by the empty shelves, however, what really struck me the most is how many of us overwork to avoid one another, no eye contact, no friendly smile, not even a quick wave. Fear, self-containment, and face masks have isolated us as much as the quarantine itself. As I pondered this, Floyd popped into my mind. Many of us long time Alaskans remember a time driving down Spenard as you came to the corner of Minnesota, more often than not, you would pass a young Alaska Native man smiling and waving enthusiastically. Even as he aged, I always felt that he was full of youth. Defiant of conventional panhandling techniques, if he had a sign at all, it said “Say hi to Floyd.” It’s funny how experiences in your life connect in a seemingly random sequence; I thought of Floyd’s determination to bond with our community at a moment when we have willingly committed to distancing. To my surprise, the compassion Floyd put out into the world was not confined to the corner of Spenard and Minnesota.
Recently I had the opportunity to do some work up in Copper Center. For my lower 48 friends, the directions are loosely this; head north from Anchorage for about 3-4 hours depending on weather, drive through Glenallen and take a left. Needless to say, it’s one of those communities I consider representative of the heart of Alaska. Due to a strange set of circumstances, we had a difficult time finding a place to stay and our team ended up at a cute little Airbnb. It was late and dark when we arrived and the temperature was -27 but the Bed and Breakfast couldn’t have been cozier. We each took to our room and fell fast asleep. Then, I’d say around midnight, I ventured down the hall for a glass of water. There in the corner, was a glow. As I looked closer I nearly fainted. There appeared to be a short little woman with jagged teeth and a scowl that raised the hair on my neck. She looked downright frightening. I was appalled to find out that she was a paper mache doll, and didn’t understand why someone would have that sitting in the corner of such a quaint establishment. Let me tell you, I didn’t tiptoe back to my room, it was a sprint.
On the day of departure, I had the chance to say goodbye to our hostess and proprietor, Kate. The meal she prepared was amazing, and the time we spent with her in Glenallen I will forever treasure. She shared with me the story of her doll… Now in the daylight, I could see that she has a wig, a missing arm, and a missing tooth. But it was the story that was the best, and put my mind at ease. Our hostess explained that many years ago when she was on a walk with her then young daughter, they saw Floyd. At a glance, he was disheveled, shirt untucked in a mannerism that led the girl to ask, “Mommy what’s wrong with that man?”. Her wise mother said, “nothing at all, in fact, his name is Floyd and he has the biggest heart in all of Alaska.”
Years later, in 2004, when Floyd passed away at the age of 45, an entire community mourned his passing. And like so many of us, Kate reflected on the friendly smile and welcoming wave. Our host decided to honor Floyd’s legacy, by using the article from the newspaper to create the paper-mâché doll. Encapsulating the spirit of Floyd, the doll was entered into a Fur Rondy competition and won the best of show. When Kate went to pick up the doll, she was missing her custom hat. Years later she was in the restaurant where an intoxicated patron danced with her until her arm fell off. A few more years passed and a group of small children was playing, and she lost a few teeth. What’s left? Well, it’s not just the paper she was made from that for sure. What remains is far more, it’s the heart of Floyd!
The point of this story, like Floyd, a smile and a wave can extend far beyond 6 feet or in my case 10. The kindness is in the smile, and in the lack of discrimination in sharing it. As we all adjust to new social distancing measures helping to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, let us not forget the spirit of Floyd. Share a smile from 6ft in the grocery store. Check-in on neighbors, friends, and co-workers. In these uncertain times, it has never been more important for Alaskans to stay connected, engaged, and to work together to support our community. And like the doll that was inspired by a huge heart, we may too get a little beat up and things can be challenging, but we can persevere not only in health but also in heart.
Written by Paula Bradison, CEO