Naw-Ruz and other notes

I just got closed out of the college library, forgot it closes at 4pm on Fridays. I figured, too, it might be open straight through this afternoon since there is a potluck-get together there tonight to welcome spring. Now, I'm in the student union bldg with just a couple students in view. I wonder who's around to come to the library event tonight that I expect to attend.
Anyway, Happy Naw-Ruz, the first day of the Baha'i new year, that happens on the first day of spring. I've always thought that is so cool. March 20 also marks the end of The Fast. After eating a whole bunch last night at a party in Chinle and then breakfast this morning and then lunch.......I'm already feeling more full than I did for the past 19 days.
I took today off from work. I was caught up and asked for the day since it is a Baha'i Holy Day and we are not supposed to work if possible. I went to Lukachukai this morning for a study circle and that was a good way to start a Holy Day with no work.
It is beginning to feel like spring. It's still cold at night, and the house today was left a little cooler than I like, but I'll go build a fire before coming back to campus for the library event at 6:30. Louoise's house will stay warm while I'm out for a couple hours. Louise expected to go see her mom at Wheatfields Lake, about a half hour south toward Window Rock from Tsaile late this afternoon.
Tomorrow, weather permitting, Louise will do some yard work at her home. I'll help, and then we want to go to Farmington, NM, across the Chuska Mountains on that beautiful mountain pass road that's been closed all winter. We hear now it's all clear, no snow or ice on the road. There's a Mexican Restaurant we like in Farmington where we went met last summer a couple times. Shiprock, where I was last summer, is on the other side of the mountains from here, between here and Farmington.
I just learned something about setting the date for Easter. It's unusual to have it fall so early and within a couple days of Naw-Ruz. Here's why Easter Sunday is March 23 this year. Easter is always on the first Sunday after the first full moon (tonight) after the spring equinox (March 20 or 21.) Now we'll know.

I've looked ahead at the April calendar. It's quite busy with, largely with events connected to the 40th anniversary of Dine College which started as Navajo Community College in 1968. I figured out I'm just past the half way point in the time I'll be away from North Carolina. I'm glad April is busy, both with my work and the extra activities scheduled for weekends, because as I get closer to the time I'm going to start my drive back to North Carolina, I'll be missing family and my home even more than the time so far since I left in January.

Thanks for checking my blog.

Good thing I'm done. This room will close in ten minutes. Tsaile is kind of a quiet place to be. Then again, there's that big happening at the Library in a couple hours.

Cell phone connection in surprising places!

Here's one more photo from yesterday. This is about where I was standing when I received a phone call from Gabs at Louis Gregory Baha'i Institute, Hemingway, SC. We had connection for about a half hour. That's part of why I was so far behind Sue and the flock of sheep.

PS No, that's not where I was when on the phone. This is a photo of the canyon where we took the sheep to stay a few hours. One of the earlier photos, probably the one with the sheep way off in the distance is about where I was standing. Anyway, I was way out in the middle of a field near the Chuska Mountains, and I never would have guessed that I'd have phone reception there! But I did.

Yesterday with the sheep

New friend, Sue, by her own definition, a traditional Navajo woman, invited me to come to her home. We decided last week, I should do this yesterday, so I'll know where she lives and can pick her up sometimes for Baha'i events. Again, early yesterday morning, I drove to Lukachukai and a little beyond toward Round Rock. I got lost just once because I took a turn about a quarter of a mile too soon off Hwy 12. However, now I know for next time.

As planned, I got to Sue's home before 9:00 am so I'd be there as she was letting out the neighbor's sheep. This is a neighbor who Sue is helping. She said she partly is volunteering to be an example of a helpful Baha'i. Her own sheep just go out to graze and come back on their own. However, Sue is training this new flock that had not been given the opportunity in recent months to get out of the corale. If folks can get hay, sometimes they don't bother or are not able to get out with the sheep. Sue says it's so much healthier for the animals if they are out. What a beautiful area she and the animals have in which to walk.

I'm going to post a few photos of this area where I walked, always behind Sue who, about my age, I think, is in much better shape from the hours of walking she does every day. A couple photos just show the area. One, however, shows the sheep way ahead of me, just dots way out there, and then another of the two sheep who I herded to hurry up and join the rest. They did.

The first photo here is of a baby lamb who stayed behind with others. Sue says to leave some of the young ones behind is a help in assuring that those who are way out will return home (As I type that, I'm thinking of my returning home to NC...no matter how far out I go to "graze.".... I'll leave here in about 7 - 8 weeks to start my drive back to NC. Lots of grazing yet to do out here! )

Thank you again, Sue, for being my teacher yesterday.

ASU trip to southwest

That's Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, not ArizStateU. Pete Reichle, professor at ASU, brought students again, on the annual trip he has done most years since 1988. It was great to visit with him and meet this year's group. I was able to see them twice, before and after their hike into Canyon de Chelly. It was this same trip, 19 years ago, that I came on and had my first experiences on the Navajo Reservation. At that time, there were two main activities that continue to seem like the most influential on me during that life-changing ten days. The first was being with Annie Kahn, as I think I mentioned a week ago in a post. I was lucky to be at her presentation again last Monday. As often seems to be the case, there was confusion about where we could meet, mis-communication between folks. But, as always, we ended up in the best place, on the grass in a circle, near the meeting place that had been pre-arranged where now there was another meeting in progress.

Annie said everyone of us is born sacred with that first breath. Each of us is unique, with a certain identity and purpose. None of us is an accident. The earth can teach you everything. She then shared some of the traditional Navajo teachings that have become so familiar to me over the past twenty years. She challenged the young people, telling them their life is so easy, and that they have more freedom than folks in the past, more opportunities to do important things. She invited the students to share and answer what they could do that can make a difference. "How do you make your own notches?" she asked. The answers focused on learning and giving to others. Before starting a continuous line around the circle so that everyone got to greet and hug everyone else, she reminded us, "Today is no accident. This is a beautiful day. We have time to sit together, to share, to be friends, to be brother and sister."
Ahe'hee (thank you) Annie Kahn

Winter views in Tsaile

Here are two photos taken on a crisp winter day, February 27th. The young student dropping off his son at Tsaile day care on Dine College campus before he headed to Chinle for classes, is Lionel Yazzie. Before the photo, he pulled the blanket back on the cradleboard, and his beautiful six month old, Quintin, gave a big grin to me. Lionel said it was fine to take the photo and post it on my blog. Thank you!

The other photo here is a tree in the backyard of Louise's home at sunset that same day. I figure it will be a pretty tree to photograph during spring's arrival.

Almost spilled the beans!

A week ago, on Sunday, my good friend Bertie was in my car, and we were going to the Baha'i Cluster meeting in Lukachukai. There were two caseroles in the back on the floor, and Bertie had her crockpot of beans held between her feet on the front floor. I handed her my camera because I wanted her to take a couple photos as we went down the hill, looking ahead to Lukachukai with the beautiful red rocks of the Chuska Mountains in view. It was late afternoon, and I thought the lighting would be real good. Whoops, I said, that's where it would've been great.

So I did a turn into a driveway and quickly backed out going the other way so we could get that same view again. Continuing my turn around, I went into and out of the next driveway, and Bertie was concentrating on getting the photo. Over went the crockpot. But Bertie was able to save it. Luckily,she had placed foil on top of the pot, under the lid. With a laugh, as she took the photos, she said, "Mike, you almost spilled the beans!"

I hope the photos, even small on this post, show you why I love the drive from Tsaile to Lukachukai, about 15 minutes to the home where we often meet for Baha'i events.

People are the most important

Louise continues to be a wonderful friend to me. I always enjoy meeting more of her large family. I hear from Louise that they always ask if I'm ok, if I'm happy, warm enough and comfortable. A couple weeks ago, her mom and step dad came to her home. When we were officially introduced, her mom called me "daughter" in Navajo, and Louise said, "That's it! Now you're part of the family forever." Here are two photos from that day, one of Louise and her mom and another one of her mom with me. Her mom may not have been too enthused about agreeing to the photo shoot, but she did make sure that her hands were held in front of her (Louise said) to show off all her turquoise jewelry. As they left, soon after these photos were taken, she said in Navajo to Louise, "You girls are up to no good."

Bigger catch up - not so quick

There have been experiences and photos I want to share over the past couple of weeks. It's Sunday morning, and I'm at the Navajo Nation Quality Inn in Window Rock, AZ. I have access to the internet and some time before I leave for a birthday party in St. Michaels for Pearl's mom. The blog entries I post this morning before I leave will not be chronological, but an assortment of "stuff to share."

The photo here was taken a half hour ago, by me of me, in the mirror. Those of you who know me will appreciate the phrase on the shirt. Sorry, the writing is backwards. There's probably a way to reverse the photo online, but I don't know how to do that. The shirt was purchased last week at T&R Market in Gallup, newly renovated and updated, and now it's a really cool grocery store. Although I am so connected emotionally and spiritually to a lot of the teachings and values here on the Navajo Reservation, there's an ongoing joke about me and mutton(sheep for eating.) It's a real treat for most Navajos and one of those "back home items" that Navajos crave if they live off the rez. To me, it's not like lamb; it has a stronger flavor, and I've never gotten used to the taste. At some time in the future even if I wanted to eat it, I might not. That would ruin the jokes that have been said about me for almost 20 years: "Doesn't like mutton? What kind of a woman is she?"

I expect the shirt will provide some laughs today at the gathering of Pearl's family.

Quick catch up

I have not logged on to my blog since the last post on March 3. It's 4:45pm on a Friday at the college....always a very quiet time on any campus....and it's spring break! Really quiet! Security will probably want the offices closed very soon. The library closed an hour ago. I have no where in town to go and get online until Monday, so I thought I should just say everything is fine for those of you who check (thanks).

It is more than fine. Work is going well. I'm getting so much cooperation from staff here, and I'm enjoying the online research I'm doing. The time goes by so fast to work just half time.

My Baha'i Ruhi Institute involvement is wonderful, especially during The Fast. Today we had study circles and devotions in Lukachukai, the "town" just ten minutes from Tsaile where I live and work. For the second time I have homemade stew and fry bread from the devotions gathering that today has to wait till the sun goes down for me to eat and share with Louise.

This weekend will be quiet in Tsaile. The big activity for me tomorrow will be to go to Chinle (Bashas grocery store) to buy more ingredients for two dishes I want to make in quantity for Sunday, some to take to the Baha'i Cluster meeting in Lukachukai and some for Louise and her family members who will be visiting this weekend.

Monday I expect to go to Chinle with Charlotte Kahn. We'll be guests of Annie Kahn (Charlotte's mom) who is doing a presentation to the Appalachian State University group that comes with Pete Reichle every year (different students....same basic trip) This is the trip I came on in 1989 that was a life changing experience for me. Part of what was so wonderful about that trip was the presentation and visit with Annie Kahn, well known medicine woman and teacher of Navajo traditions. She is still a wonderful teacher. Today she shared the thought that the primary reason Navajos are still here as a recognized group of people is prayer, their traditional prayers about all of life. Of course, there was Navajo language shared today, and again I wish I knew a whole lot more.


I know I expected to add photos to my blog this past week. Again, I hope to do it soon. Meantime, stay in touch with what you're doing, by phone or email or comments on this blog. It's 5:20, and Louise is going to wonder, "What's she doing now!" if I don't get "home" soon.

Thanks again for checking in.

Indian Market Heard Museum 50th anniversary

Another wonderful special weekend in Phoenix area with sister Pat and brother-in-law Dick. This blog entry is to tell a little about my first time at the Indian Market, and sometime soon (?) I hope to update other activities of the past couple weeks. My job at the college, although part-time, is taking more energy, and I'm having a wonderful time with Baha'i Ruhi Institute activities in Tsaile, and then, there are these unique experiences like this weekend.

The drive here was beautiful. Most of the snow near "home" (Tsaile) has melted. I took a route that goes through mountains and beautiful pine forests and some snow and rock formations. Then here in Phoenix, the temperatures over the weekend were about ten degrees above "normal" for this time. It was in the 80's on Saturda, 70's yesterday.

Pat has told me for years that I'd love the Indian Market at the Heard Museum. She's right! Artists often said that this is one of the best show in the country. Beautiful traditional and modern jewelry and sculptures and lots of entertainment, mostly drumming and dancing, from different tribes. I have videos, taken on my little digital camera, of some of the entertainment, but I haven't figured out yet how to share those. Pat and Dick helped both days at the fry bread booth. This is the largest single fund raiser booth at the Indian Market. Having done this volunteer service for years, Dick has the system well organized with the cooking of beans and used 72 institutional cans of beans. (Ran out, could have used 85!) Some folks choose to put salt or cinnamon sugar on their fry bread instead of beans and salsa. Dozens of other volunteers give four or five hours at a time to helping customers. A group of Native American women make fry bread, more of it than I've ever seen in one place.

Yesterday was the first day of the Baha'i Fast, and that went well for me. Today, because I'm going to drive six or seven hours to get home, I will remember it's the Fast, but I will drink and eat while I travel.

Thanks for checking my blog. Missing you all in North and South Carolina, but continuing to feel so thankful for being able to be in the southwest again for a few months. I expect to post more this week, including photos of some of the entertainment at Indian Market.