Osiyo Everyone. We made a day trip to Cherokee last night (Feb 2007) and today at hubby's request...who am I to refuse THAT? lol
Of course we shopped a little and I was blessed to listen in on part of a basket making class at the store across from the Cherokee Museum. I knelt next to a 74 yr old grandmother (she has 6 grand children) while she scrapped pieces of white oak with a pocket knife to smooth them for a basket. She told me what kind of blade was best. She explained when to wet the blade, how to strip the wood, how to bend it. She also explained how her hands have weakened with age so she buys premade handles these days. She told me how Cherokee has changed in the years since she was born there. She told me how the casino is not such a blessing. Seems lots of the old businesses are being torn down for parking and expansion of an associated hotel. She spoke so softly I had to really strain to hear her. She was wearing jeans and a pink bandana. I couldn't believe she was in her 70's. She talked about a trip she wants to make to OK City to visit cousins, and how she has to save pennies and nickles. She talked about the Falls when I told her we wanted to stop at Mingo Falls. She said "don't be silly, it's winter. It's not safe." and continued to explain about rock slides from the rain. It was so amazing to watch her fingers work those strips of oak. I never did make it to the museum!
We visited the Talking Leaves book store and I picked up a Cherokee dictionary, and Kituwah dialect language sampler tape, and a book called Cherokee Words with pictures. I picked up a CD of Cherokee Warrior Stories that had Geoffrey's attention a good while on the trip home. I also found a copy of Fools Crow Wisdom and Power by Thomas Mails. I was very surprised to find some of the children's books only cost a dollar and a half. Geoffrey picked out three books. One called "the rough face girl" that his teacher has read to him and he wanted to share with me, a book about legends written for the children, and one of songs and poems. I also bought a small book written by a motivational Speaker from the Lakota (I think), called The Tiny Warrior. I save for books, lol. Once in a great while I get to buy some and this was my opportunity...
I felt embarrassed to go into the one novelty store that so excited Geoffrey...all the plastic toys and cutsey NDN sayings and glass that is mass produced in China. Steve bought a bag of pretty gemstones, Geoffrey wanted a bag too and a pop-gun. What he'll do with that besides drive me nuts I'll soon learn! I had to get out of there.
It was raining by then and we decided to drive into the mountains. The brake drums started making a noise way up on the mountain and I was worried. We turned around. On the way down, Steve pulled into a store called Bearmeats and checked the tires. The people working there were very nice. I bought soap from the store, and an oil mixture for stress and headaches. I hope it works. Steve always starts in telling people how I'm Cherokee and how much blood I have and I want to cringe. I wish I could make him understand it's ok that we are around people and they don't know my history. He just doesn't get it. And I feel like apologizing all the time...this is a hard thing for me. Anyway...
We got home at 8, Steve went to sleep, Geoffrey took daddy's movie out and watched something of his own, and I started writing you. I read just a few emails last night and am still sitting on about 300 in my inbox from the past week. If I missed anything, I didn't mean to. I picked up on a conversation about 'places' resting in the winter...I'd forgotten... and the words reminded me. I think what I've needed to refresh my spirit from all I have handled this past year was the water... I have been looking in the wrong places for rest. I need the mountain quiet and the voice of the water. We bundled up while we were in Cherokee and drove with windows down for a short time and listened to the river run. It wasn't enough so we pulled over and walked for a while. I miss the water.

OH MY I almost forgot the most important thing... we were driving home and being quiet for a bit, when all of a sudden an EAGLE rose from the left side of the mountain, out of a fog, right above the freeway! I though we were gonna be hit by the man in the car behind us as Steve swerved off the road! I can only imagine what he called us. I couldn't believe my eyes. The beautiful bird flew so many circles, right over us for maybe a full minute! Low circles! We sat there and just watched the deliberate circles. I have never seen a wild eagle fly and have wished for this so many times. It was dark colored but unmistakably an eagle. What a precious gift!