As we go through life, great things happen that affect your history and future. Such an event occurred one day a couple of summers ago while I was elbow deep at the fillet table. I was approached by Aurora, a young lady with ties to our family who has grown into a wonderful, beautiful woman. I have known Aurora since she was a little girl, having her parents as long time friends. My wife and I had three boys. She grew up with them and was close to them all.
So one day in the height of the 2023 fishing season, this young woman was visiting with her family to fish for sockeye salmon with us. In the middle of the chaos of dip netting salmon, people all over the property, dealing with their catch of fish, Aurora singled me out while I was cleaning and filleting salmon at our fish cleaning table station. Keep in mind that this particular fish cleaning table was the center of activity and very busy with guests. She leaned in and told me she wanted to ask if I would want to see her marry her beau at our riverfront property.
I was frozen in the moment, except for the tears that started to form in my eyes. It took a long time for me to look up from my fillet knife and into her eyes to see if what she was asking was real. I began to process what Aurora had just told me. My mind went through all the times I remembered with this little girl and now here she was wanting to marry with Eagle’s Eye Vacation Rentals as her Alaska wedding venue. Aurora then told me, without hesitation, that I had been like a father to her and she wanted me there to see her marry this man she had been dating for some time now. Aurora said that she wanted to marry her chosen man at the most beautiful place she could imagine being for her wedding.
It was almost as if I was the last person to know this was happening. I remember her stepping over and touching my shoulder with her hand. I wanted to give her a big hug but my hands where full of fish, and I could not make a mess of her clothes. What a moment in my life knowing I did not have any daughters, but feeling like I did right there and then. I know that I will never forget it. I could not continue with the fish table work.
I had to stop and talk with Aurora so I excused myself from the area for a few minutes as I spoke with this young lady. As I regained my composure, we started to make a plan. We talked about her Alaska wedding venue vision and what she wanted to do. It was almost like I was being asked if it was okay for her to marry the man she was in love with. So to shorten this story a little, we started planning a wedding for Aurora for June of 2024 on all the properties of Eagles Eye Vacation Rentals. On June 8th, we had a fantastic wedding event on our Kenai River property that I will never forget. Almost 100 people came to celebrate Aurora and Shane at their wonderful wedding with all the trimmings of a life path memory. Please enjoy some of the pictures of the path crossing event.
