“I like seeing the Sleeping Lady,” says Elder Son, leading me to momentary confusion. He and I are sharing my car for a few days, and I am driving him to work. We are just passing the black cliffs between Craig and Klawock, a pair of sister cities on Prince of Wales Island. My son sees my look, and points to this, which is the view to our left as we drive:

I listen with dawning comprehension as he reminds me that when he and Younger Son were small I often told them the story of the Sleeping Lady, in which young Susitna, a member of an ancient race of giants, lay down to sleep until her lover returns from war. To date, he hasn’t come back yet, but that doesn’t mean he won’t.

“Ever since then,” Elder Son concludes, “I’ve felt hopeful every time I pass this spot and see her.”

And I am delighted. I tell him that the original Mount Susitna, aka the Sleeping Lady, is located across Cook Inlet from Anchorage, and that the story I told him is an ancient Athabaskan legend from that area. We both laugh when we realize that for the almost thirty years since I first trotted out that story, he and I have been talking about different mountains.

Here’s the Sleeping Lady that most Alaskans are familiar with:

In contemplating these two lovely ladies, I am reminded of Zenna Henderson, a teacher and science fantasy writer from an earlier age. In one story, Zenna put forth the idea that some of our hills and mountains might just be creatures from other dimensions who are catching a nap before heading home. Who’s to say? We have nothing to lose by treading lightly.

**************

For your further edification:

Zenna Henderson (Author of Pilgrimage) (goodreads.com)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/491887.The_Anything_Box