Girdwood, Alaska

In a hazy dream, you wake up in a bed of snow. Pine trees and snowboarding children unfold before you, and you don't know where you are. "What place is this?," you ask a little girl playing with a ball of snow. "This is Girdwood. Girdwood, Alaska, Miss. South of Anchorage. It's strange you don't know where you are," the girl says.

"Girdwood?," you reply. "Yes, Girdwood. That's the name of our town. It's actually known as the Glacier City. My mom told me that Girdwood got its name from an Irish man who lived here. He discovered gold here! Right along that Crow Creek over there," she points her finger.

You look around and suddenly see a spectacular view of the mountains and glaciers. You hold your breath. "Beautiful, isn't it? That's the Chugach Mountains," informs the girl.

You notice how the streets are filled with fancy stalls of restaurants, boutiques, shops and lodging houses, and suddenly feel hungry. "I'm starving. Would you mind accompanying me to a coffee shop?," you ask the child. "Sure, miss. Maybe your weirdness is caused by hunger."

"Are you going to the Girdwood Forest Fair?," she asks again. "I'm sorry?," you answer. "The Girdwood Forest Fair! It will be held next week. Where do you live? I don't know why you don't know that. It's the most special event of the year. Everyone will be busy hiking, fishing and rafting! I myself will join my Dad hiking," she says.

"Oh. That sounds interesting," you comment. "I envy you. This town knows how to have fun." "Of course it does," retorts the girl. "You know what? Dad told me that he also used to hike with my grandfather, who unfortunately died in an earthquake. I can't imagine how that earthquake destroyed the old Girdwood city down south, together with my grandfather. Dad said that Girdwood used to be a lonely town."

"A lonely town? I can't see any trace," you tell her. "Yes. A lonely town. Good thing that the Alyeska resort is there to relive Girdwood again. My Dad said that because of the resort, many people have been visiting Girdwood. Many restaurants and parks were build. And brought this community into a fun Glacier City that it is." You would like to tell something to the girl but you suddenly wake up. The stewardess announces that the plane is going to land soon. On Alaska.