Paul G

Posted by Seesfar

Grand Dad sat under the shade tree and drank from his old mug. He looked off into the distance and sighed every now and then. I asked him what he was thinking about. He replied,"Oh, I was just thinkin bout the last Pow Wow I was at and all my friends I ain't seen for so long. I miss swappin stories and eatin and all the great dance clothes that the youngsters always seemed to be commin out with"! And he looked away again and sighed.
I went in the house and dragged out the latest copy of the Cherokee Pheonix and looked for a Pow Wow that wasn't too far away and was happening soon. I found one and circled it and left it where Grand Dad could find it. Sure enough, the next morning, Grand Dad was all smiles. He said," Funny thing happened last night. I found this note for a Pow Wow on the table. I think it would be good to go there"!
So, as the day drew near Grand Dad and I loaded up our old truck with a tent and gear and took a cooler of steaks from the freezer packed in dry ice. We set off and drove for a long time. I thought we should be there pretty quick.
As we drove over the crest of a hill, we looked out across the prairie and saw the most amazing sight! Lodges as far as the eye could see! All standing white against the blue of the sky and the gold of the grass. There were cars and trucks of all kinds; todays ponies, parked every where. tents and campers were packed in close to one another.
We came down off the hill in a cloud of dust and pulled to a stop at a home made gate. An older man was there and leaned in the window. Right away he recognized Grand Dad. And they started to laugh and shake hands. He told us where we could camp.
Even before we had the tent half way up, our camp was visited by several people and invites were passed out for the three days we would be there. We walked through the Pow Wow and stopped at so many camps and ate and talked and lauhghed that I hurt all over. I was about to bust and had to undo my belt a notch or two. I was introduced around by Grand Dad and told over and over when and where Grand Dad met these People.
We spent the weekend eating and dancing and telling and listening to all sorts of jokes and stories. We emptied the cooler of steaks the first night we were there. People came to our camp with all sorts of dishes and we had the biggest pitch in dinner I ever saw. All to welcome Grand Dad back to the Circle and me into the circle.
Well, Sunday came around all too soon and we made out to tear down camp with all the hands you could imagine to help. There were almost too many helping. We left Sunday Evening and headed home. As it grew dark, Grand Dad grew quiet. I figured he was tired after all the excitement of the week end. I was really happy and had such a good feeling as I drove down the road back towards home. Grand Dad was really sleeping soundly and I decided to drive on through and be home by morning.
As we pulled up the dusty lane to the house the Sun was comming over the hiil over to the East. Grand Dads' Hill I called it. He prayed on that hill every morning rain or shine.
So I decided to wake him and he could pray this morning before we unpacked.
I reached over to gently shake him awake but he felt odd. He didn't wake up. I went around to the side and opened the door and looked closer at Grand Dad. He had passed over on the drive home. He had a slight smile on his face.
The funeral went as funerals go. And on the way home I realized Grand Dad had the last great time before he was to leave us and had all this planned right down to the time he would cross over. I can't help feeling him watching from the other side and smiling at the small joke he played on me and at the good time he left me with.
So I dedicate all my dances to Grand Dad when I go into the Circle and I smile as I dance in his memory.

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