I moved to Alaska in late 1991. My first wife (who also succumbed to cancer a few years back) and I were stupid, wet behind the ears newbies fresh out of college who didn't actually know jack sh!t about Alaska but we were super excited about what an adventure it would be (and it was, and still is). She was hired as a village based mental health counselor, and had trainings in the regional hub of Dillingham. In August of 1993 she had me fly to DLG to see it, during one of her trainings. She really liked DLG and wanted us to move there; I was unimpressed and unmoved.
At a store called N/N Market, I bought my first Toby Keith album - a cassette. I remember rocking to that loudly in the loaner car for several days, wherever we went, and then keeping it in the boom box in the steambath back home. I still have that cassette somewhere.
The two songs that came to mind for me immediately when I saw that he had passed are My List - it's motivation to me every time I hear it. And, more recently again, Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue.
Condolences to his family. As others have said, cancer sucks.
A funny, at least it is to me: my first wife never got a chance to live in DLG. It has been my home for the past 22 years. I was rocking out to Toby Keith in the yard last summer, working on my boat.
