I've been here in the Copper River country for so long that i have Copper River water flowing through my veins. It's nothing unusual to glance out and see a lynx, moose, porcupine, fox, wolf or even a caribou strolling through the yard, or to doze off in a chair on the deck and open my eyes and watch a big black bear lumber past not ten feet away. Or see a splotch of bear nose on the dining window. Or open the kitchen door and see three wide eyed cubs looking up from the trash bags. I go to Anchorage and think, 'My gosh, look at all these people trying to be Alaskans!!!' Then I hurry back home to my little place. And you know what? I just recently discovered that my best friend as a kid was Native. I'd never noticed that before.