My name was Barbara Hunt and I lived at 231 Woodhaven Drive in Mt. Lebanon for all my baby and young formative years until age 17.  Forty years later and my name is still Barbara Hunt and I have lived in Alaska for 35 years.  The life's trail has been circuitous with many interesting bends and slopes.  I worked for the Alaska State Legislature, Department of Natural Resources, the Inupiat Ukipiviucq Corporation, Arctic Slope Technical Services, Alaska Word Crafters and Rand McNally.  All of these jobs involved communications, travel, writing, natural resources, geography, and planning.  I am a map geek; I read a lot; and I do lots of art and gardening. 

I have one son who lives in San Francisco; not unlike his mother he has an eclectic life involving Berkerly Physics, music, cooking, yoga and Ancient Chinese Medicine.  My spouse and I live on an Alaskan mountain side with 20 acres of moose habitat and a view that shows the curvature of the earth, including river valleys, volcanos, frontal nature, mountain ranges and more mountain ranges.

I fled from Mt. Lebanon quickly, not even waiting or walking in high school graduation. I graduated with geography degree from University of Kentucky and did Masters Work at Ohio State in Planning.

Two years ago my first novel "Alaska's Heavy Light" was published.  It was a best seller in my teeny town of Palmer, Alaska.  (Shamelessly I also say it is available on Amazon.) I return to this Pittsburgh reunion with curiosity and a joy of connection or reconnection with the very civilized world, where I grew up.  I am pleased that some of my Mt. Lebanon girlfriends have developed a strong union, and I am thankful that I am a small part of their culture.