The Kansas basketball team is still rated #1 in the country on the eve of turkey day. I commented on my facebook how I used to enjoy going to my mothers house for turkey every year when she was around. I used to look forward to seeing her, drinking coffee with her in her living room while she watched those damn soap operas. My girl Martie used to call her at 966-2788 and asked her what happened in a particular show that she missed. Crazy, huh?

My mother was the best cook around. There would be no food, or at least that's the way it looked, but she could whip up a great meal in no time. I asked Voncile how could she do that so quick and she said on high flame. Oh, dummy me. One time, my friend Kurt Luger came here to our reservation for a meeting and I told him I wanted him to meet my mother and we went over to her house. She proceeded to make a big breakfast while me and Kurt drank coffee. For years after Kurt would always brag at meetings that was the best breakfast he ever had.

Her house was small, only four rooms but it was "the house' and our home. It's funny how that works. It's the people who make a home. She raised 12 screaming kids and several grandchildren in that house. She could make ends meet somehow. We were poor but who really gave a damn when we had her for a mother. She died in 2001 and I rarely go over there now because she made the home with her presence. I think about her all the time especially during these holiday times.

George Carlin wisdom

George Carlin said this shortly after his wife died and then he passed on too.

'The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not bett er things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less. These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete... Remember; spend some t ime with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.If you don't send this to at least 8 people....Who cares?'

George Carlin

Veterans Day

On this Veterans Day, many memories come rushing back of friends and family who have served in the military. Prairie Band Potawatomi tribal members enlisted and did their part to make this country the great country it is, but war does have consequences as some tribal members lost their lives and other suffered from the after-affects.
In the last post, I wrote about my friend Martin Jim, Jr. He died in Vietnam in 1971. Earlier in that war, his cousin Victor Hale had also died. Later research showed Floyd Nevins also died in Vietnam, May 15, 1969. In World War I, Leonard Tapsee died in Europe during the year of 1918. Later in World War II, Lavernne “Sas-Weh” Thomas, Paul”Wah-mego” Wamego, and William Lasley died during hostile action. During the Korean War, Vernon Mzhickteno died in the Korean Conflict. They, along with many other men during these wars, will never know long life because they chose to defend all the freedoms we enjoy today.
After their service to the country, there was more in store for the returning veteran. Now, they had to live with what they saw and felt for the last few years. Some turned to drinking or drugs to forget their war-time experiences, while others went on living life the best way they could under the circumstances. But, one thing for sure, life was never the same for these Potawatomi men. The Potawatomi soldier returned to the close knit environment of the reservation with a vastly different outlook on life. Don Lovell said “There is a quote that I once heard. I don't know the author. However, it says "For those who have fought for it, Freedom has a taste the protected will never know".”
In the past few years as the veterans have aged, many have died. On November 26, 2003, the tribe dedicated a memorial wall and was called “an expression of the Nation’s everlasting tribute to veterans – past and present.” Now they received some recognition for their accomplishments. Potawatomi society and the country have benefited from the contributions made by all of these soldiers. Yes it is true, by and large, that most have received little recognition for their contributions, but inside they know what they accomplished and that’s all that really matters

Record set straight after many years

Martin Jim, Jr. was a Prairie Band Potawatomi tribal member who died in Vietnam during the early part of 1971 and by anybody’s calculations that was a long time ago. For the longest time the people here never knew about any of the circumstances of his death then some unusual circumstances happened in 1998 when a man named Jim Jenkins came for a visit to the reservation and in 2009 another man who served with Martin contacted me in 2009. Here is an update to the Martin Jim, Jr. story:

The war was starting to wind down in 1971, but not soon enough. Martin Jim was a quiet young man who respected the many elders on the reservation, respected the religion of the people and enjoyed life with the friends he had around him.

No one knows why he wanted to join the army, but one day he announced to his friends he was leaving and did. He joined the Army, took the training and came home on a short leave to visit his friends before leaving for Vietnam. During this leave, he said he wasn't coming back.

His friends tried to reassure him that everything was going to be alright, but he left the reservation on that January day in 1971, convinced he would never see his friends and home again. And it happened that way.

After eight days in Vietnam he was killed by a booby trap. Many years later, a man from Missouri came to the reservation and told of the circumstances of Martin Jim's death. Jim Jenkins served in the same unit. He said Martin was sent out on point, and Jenkins said this usually didn't happen with new soldiers. And there were booby traps set by the Americans, and Martin walked into one of these. Jim Jenkins was walking three men back, and the bomb killed Martin Jim and badly wounded the man in front of him. These same circumstances happened to another unit close by. It was a deadly accident of war, but that was little consolation to his friends and family.

In 2009, 38 years after Martin Jim died in Vietnam, a man named Don Lovell made contact with me and said: “Martin and I were good Army friends. We went through Infantry training and Airborne training together. We were both assigned to the 173d Airborne Brigade and flew to Vietnam on the same plane. I understand that several of the 173d have come to visit with you and family over the years. I just wanted you and Martin's family to know that I thought the world of Martin. He was a good friend and a great soldier. I was devastated when I heard the news of his death. Martin was a very brave man. I still think of him nearly every day. Please tell the family that I still miss Martin and that I still share in their grief.”

Lowell continued “Martin was truly an Airborne Infantry Soldier! I knew that Martin was a special warrior when I first met him. Martin had no fear. Martin was willing to do what he believed was right and honorable, with no concern or respect for his own well being. Vietnam was a tough place. Those of us that survived were very fortunate and we never forgot and never will forget those who willingly paid the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom we enjoy in this Nation. There is a quote that I once heard. I don't know the author. However, it says "For those who have fought for it, Freedom has a taste the protected will never know".”

An anonymous author once wrote that people will always live if you remember them, and his friends, never did forget Martin Jim. One man thought so much of him that he named his daughter after him. Her name is Martie Mitchell. Martin Jim was the second Potawatomi killed in Vietnam. Ironically, the first one was his cousin. Victor Hale had died in December 1968.

Life does have some strange twists as evidenced by Jim Jenkins and Don Lovell walking into the lives of the Potawatomi many years after the death of Martin Jim. They helped set the record straight for Martin Jim's family and friends and answered many questions.

A dog named Coda

Let me tell you a story about a dog named Coda. He moved in a few months back. My granddaughter Tara bought him as a pup. He will be one year old in November. Coda ain't no little dog, he is a Siberian Husky. She couldn't handle him in a apartment as he start getting bigger, then she ran off and got married and moved to California. She said "Misho, can Coda live with you." I told her, "so you want me to raise him as my own." Of course, I always gave Tara her way and said he could move into my backyard.

Since then my wife has gotten real attached to him. She talks to him like a little kid and makes sure he has all the good snacks. Lately I've been taking him to our park, about a mile and a half away. We've walked 28 days out of the last 31. It's good for him and good for me. One time, these two women drove thru and seen us and said, "pretty." I'm sure they were talking about Coda.

Other times, he will chase the buffalo and the cows, but I just need to be more observant. I feel much better and the stress levels have gone down, but the funny thing is that I haven't lost an pound. Oh well it's still good. Oh, I have developed a real attachment to him too.

Introduction

I started a facebook but I thought it was too limiting to what I wanted to write so I will try this blog format. I have my writings everywhere and I wanted to start jotting it down in one place. My family and I live on the Prairie Band of Potawatomi Indian Reservation. We enjoy our life here and wouldn't trade it for anywhere else. I go to work everyday and in the summer months often work in the yard and garden until dark. It's fun for me. My wife and I have our children living close which means our granchildren are with us constantly and we wouldn't have it any other way. In a few years I want to retire but I will probably work until I keel over. That's a kinda-have-to thing these days. We used to go watch basketball during the winter but my granddaughter graduated and played at the junior college level, but she married and we stopped going to games. It was great though. Now that it's getting toward winter I will work on my wood-working projects. I built a bench and a couple of bird-houses and will do more as time allows.