Reznjun

i was buying some cheap cigars today. the lady that waited on me said something bout the weather. i told her ‘this is just the way i like it’. got a quizzical look so i said ‘cant do anything about it so might as well enjoy it’. she agreed. it is hot. i try not to be outside but i find that i have to be at times. so i am used to the heat. i see other workers that have to be outside too. we stop and talk bout the heat. we agree the ones that cant live without the a/c cranked up high as possible are the ones that get most miserable in the heat.

mary and i went for our two mile walk tonite. it wasnt all that bad. not the 100 degree heat index that we have been having. it cooled off a little bit as the sun was going down. it would be so easy to make an excuse not to walk. gotta keep logging miles.

i had reason to head down to tulsa the past weekend. it was 98 degrees at 10 o ‘clock at night. they have a different kind of heat. i think we have more humidity. they predicted heat indexes in the 100s this week. they are over some from where the gathering is held but i imagine it will be hot at the gathering. i will feel for my potawatomi brethen as i sit in our air conditioned casino listening to george jones sing some sad #$%%*& tunes. i still laugh about back in the old boozing days. the fights would always start when country music came on the jukebox.

on the way down south to oklahomaville  i passed a place that advertised the ‘little house on the prairie’. i thought i seen another place in minnesota that said the same thing. they do anything to draw in touristos. at least here in kansas we have the worlds second largest ball of twine. i had my picture taken standing next to it. dont know where the hell the largest ball of twine is. dont really care either. seems like gas is always cheaper in other places than here. guess we gotta pay for that twine.

i went to dinner with my sons tonight. that was fun. we ate at a sushi place. thought i was too rez for sushi. i have had it a number of times and didnt mind it. maybe twenty years ago i would be too closed minded to even try eating raw fish.  you miss too many things by not trying them. i probably will go back and eat there again some time. the cook that fixed my shrimp dinner was entertaining. the guy cooked it in front of us and put on a show. seeing him twirl the utensils around made me think i wouldnt mess with that dude. hate to see what he could do with a sword.

eating there reminded me of a time back when i was on the street. i needed a change of scenery from the rez so i went on that government relocation trip. thats where they took rez injuns and bussed them to the city. it was suppose to make civilized indians out of us.  it wasnt too long before i got tired of the big brother attitude the program was laying down on me. they had me budgeted for 50 bucks a week to live on. in a big city where 50 bucks aint much. found a hole in the wall studio apartment for 150 bucks. that left me 50 bucks to eat on for the month.  i just went off on my own. wasnt long before i got caught up in the fast lane. after all i was straight off the rez. wasnt used to the bright city lights. partied around too much. i wandered around the streets broke and hungry most of the time. one time i stopped and turned. there was a fancy restaurant. some yuppie looking dude was decked out in a expensive suit sitting at a table eating a fine meal. i was in my street threads. long hair,  faded dungarees that were all patched up, faded out jean jacket and i wore moccasins. like i said just off the rez. we were separated by a pane of glass, maybe 5 feet from each other. reality was we were worlds apart. he was living fat city. i shoulda been back on the rez. we eyed each other,  i turned and walked on. to this day i dont give a damn what others have. we both chose our lifestyle.

i probably will dry corn this week. it looks ready.the help that i was promised probably wont materialize. wont matter. it will get done.  i picked about 40 pounds of vegetables today. the gardens are doing well even with the heat we are having. they are warm weather crops. will see what this week brings……