Grace is one of those eternal optimist types.

She moves about her life with a positive outlook that is rare, enviable even, and it’s something that comes naturally to her. But after a particularly taxing last few months, the two of us recently enjoyed some much needed island respite in Juneau.

I met Grace nearly six years ago during our first year of college in Oregon. Throughout our four years of undergrad we reserved study rooms, shared way too many laughs, and made a habit out of barging into each other’s rooms unannounced.

When we graduated in the spring of 2020, just a few months after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, neither of us had a clue where our paths were supposed to take us. She decided to head back to her hometown of Anchorage, and I decided to go with her.

Since then both Grace and I have moved — I came down to the peninsula and she spent some time back in the Lower 48. But now, almost two years after we first drove the Alaska Highway, we’re both back at the same time.

Visiting her in Juneau last weekend felt a lot like our best college days. We laughed, we danced, and we caught up about how much our lives have changed since we moved out of our tiny apartment a year ago. And most importantly, especially after the last couple months, we were just there for each other.

Grace is the reason I ended up in Alaska, and for that I’ll be forever indebted to her. But using a couple thousand miles to fly Southeast for the weekend seems like a good way to start my repayment.

Reach reporter Camille Botello at camille.botello@peninsulaclarion.com.