Sunday was challenging, a friend had tried to reach me by phone. When my phone got charged and turned on I read her message and returned the call. A great friend of her's and her husband was gone. We talked for quite a long time.
Sadly I headed for bed. Dan usually reads the paper in bed. As I came to bed he said, Pat died. A second blow. He had fought hard for a long time this man with gentle humor and a love of teasing. Many of his accomplishments I knew some I wish I had known. He was a complex man. A man of vision. A man who loved his family and his people.
Monday there was no school. I stopped by the college to talk with John about my workshop Tuesday evening. He had already done my printing. I was antsy and subdued. I still needed to get going. The trip always takes me about an hour to make Pryor,
I had lots of time to think as first the weather was windy, then rainy, then snowing. I arrived at the high school parked. I was only a few minutes early I found a seat. The color guard came in.
Most people have one major career. Pat had three. Tribal government - Tribal Chairman. High School teacher of history and language. Retiring from that occupation he served as a pastor since 1978 to his death.
As we paid our last respects people filed past the open casket. There on his chest was his bible. Placed on a corner of the open lid hung his war bonnet. We had come to say goodbye to this good man.
Sadly I headed for bed. Dan usually reads the paper in bed. As I came to bed he said, Pat died. A second blow. He had fought hard for a long time this man with gentle humor and a love of teasing. Many of his accomplishments I knew some I wish I had known. He was a complex man. A man of vision. A man who loved his family and his people.
Monday there was no school. I stopped by the college to talk with John about my workshop Tuesday evening. He had already done my printing. I was antsy and subdued. I still needed to get going. The trip always takes me about an hour to make Pryor,
I had lots of time to think as first the weather was windy, then rainy, then snowing. I arrived at the high school parked. I was only a few minutes early I found a seat. The color guard came in.
Most people have one major career. Pat had three. Tribal government - Tribal Chairman. High School teacher of history and language. Retiring from that occupation he served as a pastor since 1978 to his death.
As we paid our last respects people filed past the open casket. There on his chest was his bible. Placed on a corner of the open lid hung his war bonnet. We had come to say goodbye to this good man.
