Powwow beauties before Grand Entry!!

A couple of pictures here, Jamie and Amayah before grand entry on Saturday evening. The weather was perfect except for a little rain that didn't last long. Amayah took 2nd in her category!! That's an awesome accomplishment for her age category the competition is pretty stiff. Jamie really should have placed, her steps were right on, she didn't miss a beat. She'll win at Whitefish Bay!

Ate waaaaay too much, blueberry frybread, taco salad (w/o frybread), wild rice soup, kettle corn, Ho-Chunk dog - not a Chippewa dog! This was all over the two days.

Friday night session was rained out, so everyone used that time to get together at the casino. Had a fun evening,which is when we met most of the people.

Emma and her pow wow friend...

We had a really good time over the weekend at the St. Croix pow wow! Met a lot of people that travel the U.S.and Canada pow wow circuit throughout the summer. These last few pictures are of Emma and Travis, a fancy dancer from Atlanta, GA. He took 3rd place in his catagory, he's an awesome dancer. He also really liked Emma!! But I think the feeling was mutual.

As you can see, I need to figure out how to use her camera. These images aren't the best, but their kinda cool.

Turtle Lake/St. Croix Pow Wow

A few quick pics, will elaborate later. Now I wish I would've taken more.

This is a general life post...

Just when you think that life is kicking you in the ass, there's always something or someone that surprises you, and will kick you in the ass even more. Had a really good friend get fired today from a somewhat reputable bank in town.

I've lived in this little ass town for years, went to college here.

Happy Father's Day again!

I'm wising my mom would've been in this pic, then I could've said 'happy mom and dad's day'. I called them and talked to them both though. I think that's better than the card I usually send them via the mail...... If I could give them back the world (like they've given me) I would in a heartbeat!!! Maybe some day.

Ravages of cancer......

I wanted to include a really beautiful, serene, yet kind of turbulent picture to go with this post. My daughter took this in South Africa on the Eastern Cape somewhere.

This afternoon was really difficult. I, and two co-workers visited a former co-worker at her home who is dying of cancer. Words cannot explain the emotions that go with how her husband cares for her, she can't walk, she has no brain activity that allows her to talk, her eyes are open, she tries really hard to recognize people and that alone is energy trying for her. Her husband patiently and lovingly gives her water from a toddler 'sippy' cup and sponges her mouth to keep her as comfortable as possible, she can barely swallow the water without choking. To move her in a position to sip water is painful for her. Needless to say, she can't eat and is no longer getting any nourishment.

Her husband was sobbing as he cared for her during our visit, and talked to her lovingly as he cared for her. It was really, really hard to see this....but then again very bittersweet if that makes sense. The wedding vows kept going through my head...."For better or worse, til death do us part ......for better or worse".... This is what they mean!

When I talked to her, she looked at me so hard! Like she really wanted to recognize me, she tried so hard. The entire time I was there, I had to keep looking at the photos on the ledge behind her. Photos of her and her husband at their wedding years ago, they were so young and beautiful and then again at their daughters wedding.....that's how I will always remember Sharon, as I saw her in her in her happy pictures. She loved her family, especially her little grandchildren.

Sharon was a very stubborn woman, never wanted help from anyone. Maybe not so much stubborn as she was strong because she was always the caregiver, the nurturer, the mom, the wife.

Now, she's in her last days..lingering and taking deep breaths with every sip of water. That's all she can do, with her husband and sister beside her.