Archive for April, 2003

Hey, all…

Sorry I haven’t been around. The semester is winding down and I’m getting ready for my final. Also, I’ve been a bit stressed over the homework (it’s math and it’s my worst subject) so my mind has been pre-occupied.

I will return as soon as I can.

BTW, yes, miss cathelin…isn’t my precious niece the spittin’ image of me? She even acts just like me. Now, that’s a scary thought!

Good news: I survived Easter weekend with my family.

Ok, ok…it was MUCH better than I expected. Part of it, I think, was being able to get my trepidations off my chest here before I went. So, I wasn’t as worried as I would have been because you all gave great advice and empathy. Thank you for that.

These are the other reasons it wasn’t so bad. Nothing can be bad when you have this around.

Ok…so, do other people have family issues like this?

I love my family to pieces. We’re all very close and get along fairly well day to day.

The problem, however, is when we actually have to spend days on end with one another without any space.

I’ll admit that part of the issue is my own. I’ve lived by myself for several years and enjoy that solitude. I like having my space. I like being autonomous.

The problem arises when I’m in the same house with my mom for days on end. Don’t get me wrong, I adore her. The issue is that she is very opinionated. If you disagree, it’s like a major offense. I try to keep the peace but there are times when I just cannot agree with her. When I disagree, I’m being difficult. It then turns into a huge problem and sometimes she’ll just quit talking to me.

So, this weekend we’re all going down to my brother’s house in the Phoenix area (Gilbert for those of you in the area ). There will be 11 of us all crowded into a 3-bedroom house. While it is a large house, it’s just not large enough for personal space at all. I’m already stressed about what may arise and we haven’t even left yet.

Am I alone in these kinds of situations?

There are a lot of things that I love about the town I live in. I love that I’m in Arizona (a state is truly beautiful if you’ve never been here) but that I don’t have to suffer through the high temperatures. I love that my home is surrounded by mountains and pine trees and wild animals. I love the vibes I get from this place. I dream about it when I’m away.

Today, though, I was reminded again of a reason to love this place. Just when you think you’ve got the weather figured out, it throws you for a turn. A favorite saying is “If you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes.” I was awoken by popcorn snow hitting my window. I looked out and there was a slight spattering of snow around my deck. When I went out to warm up my car and take my baby out for his morning walk, I was greeted with at least 3 inches of snow…with a lot more coming down.

I love that. I love that I’m kept on my toes.

It makes it hard to grow things in this area. In fact, we have one of the shortest growing seasons on the earth. We have deep freezes into June and they begin again at the end of August. It’s hard to grow things here. But, it’s also enjoyable. I love those summer mornings that are brisk. The year it snowed on June 17th was a memorable one.

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I’m picking up my 4-year-old niece from pre-school today. I don’t get to do this very often so it’s always a treat to see her in the middle of the week. Her parents both have to work late and asked if I would help out. Happily, I agreed.

So, I called over to affirm the plans. My sister-in-law tells me that my niece is pretty excited about me picking her up.

My niece’s words: “She really wants to see me?”

Well, yes, of course.

She makes my heart swell.

She was a daughter first. She became a sister, a mother, a friend, a co-worker. She ended up being a national hero.

Pfc. Lori Ann Piestewa was the first Native American woman to die in combat fighting for the United States.

On Saturday, a memorial was held where more than 5,000 people showed up in a remote part of Arizona to pay their respects. Attendees included Arizona’s governor, Janet Napolitano, and the Arizona First District congressman, Rick Renzi.

A movement to rename Squaw Peak (a derogatory term for Native American women), to Piestewa Peak has begun in our state’s capital (with much resistance, unfortunately).

Pfc. Lori Ann Piestewa was a Hopi but was a part of the Navajo and Hopi communities (the Hopi nation actually lies in the middle of the Navajo nation).

At her memorial, a program of the day’s events given to all who attended contained a simple “Hopi Prayer”.

A HOPI PRAYER

When you awaken in the morning hush, I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight. I am soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry: I am not there, I did not die.