Going Bushy

From eight years old on, I grew up in Alaska.

We first moved to Akiachak, a tiny Yupik Eskimo village along the Kuskokwim River.

The heart of the Alaskan Bush District.

 

Like many places, I suppose, Alaska has its share of local terms.

For example: "Outside," meaning "anywhere out of state," as in "We're going Outside for vacation this year." Yes.

  Or "dividend check" meaning "Free money! WAHOO!"

 

Living in the 'Chak, as we called it, we became familiar with another unique Alaskan term:

"Going Bushy."

This did not refer to an abundance of facial hair, though it was the one and only time I ever remember my dad growing a beard.

Rather, it was used to describe a person who had gone completely crazy. It was understood as a given that living out in the Bush had in some way led to their unhinged mental state. 

 

This lavender has definitely gone Bushy.

 

In the 2 years we lived there, there were 2 such instances of the dreaded disease.

The principal of a neighboring village went Bushy, and proceeded to lock himself in the mailroom. He refused to come out, or let anyone in to get their mail. Finally (several days later!) he had to be forcibly removed by the State Troopers.

 

Then, just days after we had moved a young man from our village went Bushy. He hid in the fireweed right next to where we had lived and started taking shots at the people going by on the boardwalk.

State Troopers were once again called in to handle it. 

[Does this make anyone want to be an Alaska State Trooper someday?]

 

What I'm saying is: Going Bushy was not pretty.

It was not a desirable state.

It usually took several people to contain the situation.

 

Shasta daisies, though in a bush-like state, are too pretty to be Bushy.

 

So when I say that something in my garden has gone Bushy, I don't mean, "there's a few extra shoots here and there, tra la la, isn't everything grand?"

What I mean is, this plant has a crazed gleam in its eye and has started taking down the neighbors.

It's about time to call in some reinforcements.

Just so you know.

 

Exhibit A: the oregano crossed over into Bushy weeks ago.

The rosemary hasn't been seen since.