But I have been getting burned out.
It takes a lot of energy to be happy and energetic and perky for 10 hours a day, towards tourists who only sometimes appreciate it. It takes even more energy to make every train ride feel like a first time, when its really your 978th time.
I haven't had too many days off lately... so its been a lot of non-stop work. Last week was pretty rough.... I don't really know why, but I think it was a combination of being a little under the weather, not enough sleep, and mid-season burn out. Talk about doing everything I could to answer tourists stupid questions and keep smiling.
Even the best of us need a little break, right? So the good news is, we had a road trip planned for last weekend! Allyson, the lady I live with, was ready to go through the temple and take her endowments out... and the closest temple is in Anchorage. So we packed up and drove 14 hours, spent the day there, and drove right back. Not a very long trip, but it was just what I needed.
The drive was absolutely GORGEOUS, I couldn't get enough of it.
I also got a better comprehension of why Alaska is called land of the midnight sun. Here in Skagway, it definitely never gets dark, but we have a couple hours when the sun has dipped behind the clouds... and you may need your car headlights on. This is because one, we are in the southern part of AK.. and two, we are in a valley. Once you get out of the valley though, its a different story. On the drive to Anchorage, I took this picture at exactly midnight. And we are already past the summer solstice!
I love Alaska. I think its a trip that everyone needs to make.
Anyway, the drive was great. I love road trips way too much. I love reading, listening to music, and just relaxing. Seriously I cranked out a ton of reading and I also did some really interesting study of the history of Skagway and the railroad.
I know, don't be too shocked. Who would have thought I would ever be interested in anything remotely historical.
But its captivating! I won't go into too much detail because honestly, I think I may dedicate a whole post to my thoughts on this.
Anyway though, I gathered some useful information that I can use on my tour, which will change things up and keep be from getting bored.
That's another thing I learned. With my job, if I'm getting bored, its my own fault. There's always things I can be doing to keep it interesting. Study more, add to my tour, change my introductions..... There's always ways, if you can slip out of your lazy habits. That's the trick though- you slip into patterns that are simple, and easier to keep than to break.
This week since I've been back in Skagway has been great. I'm back in the flow of things and really enjoying myself! Sometimes all you need to do is get away for a couple days, am I right?
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