I'm Here in Packrat

I don’t really feel I have anything to say, but here I am nonetheless.

…I have been working on a Very Important Issue involving one of our National heroes; our next step is now the Supreme Court.

…I went to Philadelphia for a related event and appeared on a panel. Of course I got riled up, but one of the audience members, also Native, thanked me for my passion.
In the day to day work day I sometimes don’t feel motivated; I even think about retirement, but then the core issue of NAGPRA - bringing our ancestors home - reminds me of how very honored I feel to do this work; that’s when I joke that I’ll retire when I expire.

…My rabies vaccinations are complete. What made them hell was that I had a different nurse every time I went in, and each one had to ask what happened and how my dog fared, so over and over and over I ended up recounting that terrible night and that my sweet girl died. I’m still mourning her. I know none of them meant to pour salt in my wounds, but each one of them refreshed my sorrow.

…My mother and I were in a car accident when she drove me to the hospital for my second shot. She drove into oncoming traffic. Her car was totaled but every day we breathe thankfulness because it could have been so much worse - the only injury sustained was that her seat belt burned her neck. Her tire had been smashed and bent under the car - a minute later and that damage could have been to her. She could be seriously hurt or dead right now.

…My hand is still not 100% well but almost. I drove myself for my final shot; I drive a standard. Over the weekend I could finally write with my hand and have normal handwriting. I still can’t grip, and although I can make a fist, it’s very loose, and if I tried to use it on anyone I’d hurt myself more than the other guy.

…Feeling the Coyote’s absence acutely right now. I get weepy for him anyway, but his birthday was this month. Cousin M, the Coyote’s brother, daughter, and niece also have birthdays this month, but I remember his
because my aunt called him a groundhog baby. Once he told me that he went out, saw his shadow, “it scared me” so he ran back into the house. No, his name isn’t Phil.

…I’m so ready for spring. We’ve had to shut down the offices early or all day because of the bad weather. I’m sitting right over my heater; I whined about the cold when it wasn’t that cold, and now I know what cold is.

…But I can wear sweats! Just not to work…or rather, not to work unless I stay seated behind my desk!