While living on the reservation, one spring Ta’ei got chicken pox and pneumonia at the same time. Once again, I thought will I ever live through this? But, it is well documented that I did. We had a wonderful Navajo doctor, Dr. Little, from Page who didn’t require that we put him in the hospital. He made me promise that I would stay home with him and give him breathing treatments. After I said I would, they gave him two shots, one in each side of his little bottom. They were so painful that he cried and cried. Dr. Little sent us on our way with the breathing machine and promises of staying home.
What so impressed me was that the next day, after sitting up all night and rocking Ta’ei, Dr. Little came to the house to check on him and make sure he was okay. I was so grateful to a good man who knew how nervous and frightened I was. His visit reassured me that Ta’ei was going to be all right and that there were good men in the world. This was just one of many incidents that I had children sick or at the emergency room. It seemed like there for a while we were at the Dr.’s office all the time.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
"The Red Tent"
I started reading the book, "The Red Tent." I wasn't sure I would like it. I had just finished reading this part in the Bible about Jacob or Israel and his 12 sons. There is a brief mention of Dinah, their sister. This book is written by a Jewish woman, and of course it is historical fiction, but I found myself captivated by the customs and traditions it mentions. I also really like the fact that it is written from a woman's point of view.
In the Prologue we read. "No one recalled my skill as a midwife, or the songs I sang, or the bread I baked for my insatiable brothers. Nothing remained except a few mangled details about those weeks in Shechem."
She goes on to say, "If you want to understand any woman you must first ask about her mother and then listen carefully. Stories about food show a strong connection. Wistful silences demonstrate unfinished business. The more a daughter knows the details of her mother's life -- without flinching or whining -- the stronger the daughter. " This struck a cord with me, because I thought, "What do I know about my mother?" I think when we're young, we are too involved with ourselves to care, and then in my case, when I'm old enough to appreciate the stories, my mother is gone. I'm going to try and write down what few stories I remember of my mother, a strong woman who bore children during the depression and worked in a navy yard during the second world war. A woman who sent her oldest son off to war, lost a son on his way to be married and lost a loving husband way sooner than she should have. As I think about just a few of these details, I hope that I can be strong in ways that my mother was strong. She accomplished many wonderful things, mostly through hard work and faith. Mom, I miss you.
In the Prologue we read. "No one recalled my skill as a midwife, or the songs I sang, or the bread I baked for my insatiable brothers. Nothing remained except a few mangled details about those weeks in Shechem."
She goes on to say, "If you want to understand any woman you must first ask about her mother and then listen carefully. Stories about food show a strong connection. Wistful silences demonstrate unfinished business. The more a daughter knows the details of her mother's life -- without flinching or whining -- the stronger the daughter. " This struck a cord with me, because I thought, "What do I know about my mother?" I think when we're young, we are too involved with ourselves to care, and then in my case, when I'm old enough to appreciate the stories, my mother is gone. I'm going to try and write down what few stories I remember of my mother, a strong woman who bore children during the depression and worked in a navy yard during the second world war. A woman who sent her oldest son off to war, lost a son on his way to be married and lost a loving husband way sooner than she should have. As I think about just a few of these details, I hope that I can be strong in ways that my mother was strong. She accomplished many wonderful things, mostly through hard work and faith. Mom, I miss you.
Sorrow
Yesterday I heard a song and the last lines had such an impact on me. They were, "Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal." As I thought about that, I thought about my "sorrows." I really have very few sorrows, I would rather count my blessings than sorrows, but there are times when I feel sad. I decided to think about that a little more. My sorrows have come from when I was not doing what I should be doing. Mostly, I would say they are sins of omission. I believe that I have been greatly blessed in my life and I need to "Pay it Forward." I don't do this like I used to. Maybe that is a sign of age.
I then thought about what other "sorrows" I have. They are very miniscule, but I do feel bad when my children make choices that I wished they wouldn't. Even though they are adults, maybe because they are adults, I would like to see them use their time more wisely and also "Pay it Forward." However, they are great people, and I suppose a time will come when they will see the value in that.
Nevertheless, I think its a great line for all of us to remember: "EARTH HAS NOT SORROW THAT HEAVEN CANNOT HEAL."
I then thought about what other "sorrows" I have. They are very miniscule, but I do feel bad when my children make choices that I wished they wouldn't. Even though they are adults, maybe because they are adults, I would like to see them use their time more wisely and also "Pay it Forward." However, they are great people, and I suppose a time will come when they will see the value in that.
Nevertheless, I think its a great line for all of us to remember: "EARTH HAS NOT SORROW THAT HEAVEN CANNOT HEAL."
Thursday, February 18, 2010
"Stay on the road"
I picked up a book today called “The right Words at the Right Time.” It is a collection of stories that were put together by Marlo Thomas. I’ve read it before, and so I thought I would just glance back through it. Something caught my eye. I was looking at Jay Leno’s comments. His message was that some people do better when others are watching, like him. Then I flipped through a few more stories, and the one by Dennis Miller, another commedien caught my eye. He said that when he was young trying to get started into show business Jay Leno told him one night to just “stay on the road.” As I read that, several thoughts came into my mind about how easily we are distracted from our purposes. I thought about my education. How easy it was when I was young, to quit college and get a job. Only to find myself ten years later back in school, and how much harder it was the second time around. How further along I would be, if I hadn’t left. Then I thought about my spiritual goals and the side paths I’ve taken there. How much closer to where I want to be if I had not side tracked. How much better of a person I could be and the people I could have served if I hadn’t got side tracked.
As I think about it even now, how easy I become side tracked instead of staying on the road. I think that in order for us to be successful in life, we have to “stay on the road.” We cannot be easily diverted for whatever reason or excuse we can come up with, it will harm us in the end.
As I think about it even now, how easy I become side tracked instead of staying on the road. I think that in order for us to be successful in life, we have to “stay on the road.” We cannot be easily diverted for whatever reason or excuse we can come up with, it will harm us in the end.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
High School Activity
Today my student teacher, Leah, did a fun assignment with my seniors. We are reading Robinson Crusoe and so she had them build a shelter out of newspaper. It was fun to watch, but more interesting to listen to the comments that were made. After the activity and clean up began, we had had those who said, "It's not my fault," "It's not my responsibility, let someone else do it," or my personal favorite, "I don't want to." (In a whiny voice.) I know that these are good students and yet I fear that they are taking these attitudes with them when they go to find jobs or continue on in college. More and more there are those who are not willing to take responsibility for their actions, or anything else for that matter. I guess soon enough, hopefully, the leaders will emerge.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
High School Seniors
As I was reading Senator Buttars proposal to get rid of 12th grade, I began thinking about what he really is proposing. Seniors are an unique group of students. First, they are the leaders of the school. They show the younger students how to act in certain situations. Second, many of them would not get scholarships if they didn't attend their senior year. Also they add a certain depth to the school. Most of them are just about ready to continue on with their life, but that extra year really helps them get there.
In these tough economic times, what would these students do? Would most of them be able to find jobs? Would they be prepared to enter the workforce, or college for that matter? I have many students who still do not bring a pencil and paper to class. Most of them, I know will be sucessful in their endeavors, however I feel that it still will take time for them to "get there." I think forcing them to make that decision earlier would be very detremetal to them and to society.
And there are those very few, who because they have nothing to do will end up in trouble. Maybe then the state will have to allocate more money for the penal system. I, for one, do not want that.
I enjoy these students, they add much to my life, and I feel like I contribute to theirs. One year can make a hugh difference.
In these tough economic times, what would these students do? Would most of them be able to find jobs? Would they be prepared to enter the workforce, or college for that matter? I have many students who still do not bring a pencil and paper to class. Most of them, I know will be sucessful in their endeavors, however I feel that it still will take time for them to "get there." I think forcing them to make that decision earlier would be very detremetal to them and to society.
And there are those very few, who because they have nothing to do will end up in trouble. Maybe then the state will have to allocate more money for the penal system. I, for one, do not want that.
I enjoy these students, they add much to my life, and I feel like I contribute to theirs. One year can make a hugh difference.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Native Americans
As most of you know, we lived on the Navajo/Hopi reservation for nine years. So the other night as I was watching the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics, I was extremely impressed to see them include their native peoples and give them such honor and credit. I enjoy learning about our Natives, the different tribes, ceremonies, customs, etc. I learned much while living among them. The Navajos have a saying, "Walk in Beauty." I think this encompass so much.
While living and working there, I met a great friend, Barbara Lombardi from Texas. She had seen a presentation when she was 13 about the Navajo Indians, and so all her life she wanted to work with them and teach school among them. She taught me about their sacred number "four." This little information held me in good stead on many an occassion. I remember once when one of my students had taken something from another student. I asked him. "Did you take ______'s pencil?" He said, "No." I asked him again, "Did you take _______'s pencil?" He replied, "No." I repeated myself again. Same answer. Then I said, "This is the fourth time I'm going to ask you. If you do not tell the truth, you'll be boxed in." So I asked one more time, making sure I said this is the fourth time, and he replied. "Yes, I took it."
I learned that they used the number four for many things. It represented to them the four seasons. They honored the first four clans, their four sacred mountainas and four colors, black, white, blue and yellow.
In most Navajo rituals there are four songs and multiples of four as well as symbolic uses for this multiple. The Navajo are taught that they are nurtured by four values, Life, Work, Social/Human relations and Respect/Reverence. This is what helps keep them to be well balanced people.
The more I learn about different cultures, the more I feel I could implement some of these things in my life and make it better. We are surrounded by rich cultures where we can take the good from them and improve our lives. I believe that we are all on this earth to help one another, to teach and uplift one another. We are here to see the good in people. We are here to help each other.
While living and working there, I met a great friend, Barbara Lombardi from Texas. She had seen a presentation when she was 13 about the Navajo Indians, and so all her life she wanted to work with them and teach school among them. She taught me about their sacred number "four." This little information held me in good stead on many an occassion. I remember once when one of my students had taken something from another student. I asked him. "Did you take ______'s pencil?" He said, "No." I asked him again, "Did you take _______'s pencil?" He replied, "No." I repeated myself again. Same answer. Then I said, "This is the fourth time I'm going to ask you. If you do not tell the truth, you'll be boxed in." So I asked one more time, making sure I said this is the fourth time, and he replied. "Yes, I took it."
I learned that they used the number four for many things. It represented to them the four seasons. They honored the first four clans, their four sacred mountainas and four colors, black, white, blue and yellow.
In most Navajo rituals there are four songs and multiples of four as well as symbolic uses for this multiple. The Navajo are taught that they are nurtured by four values, Life, Work, Social/Human relations and Respect/Reverence. This is what helps keep them to be well balanced people.
The more I learn about different cultures, the more I feel I could implement some of these things in my life and make it better. We are surrounded by rich cultures where we can take the good from them and improve our lives. I believe that we are all on this earth to help one another, to teach and uplift one another. We are here to see the good in people. We are here to help each other.
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