Native Indian Lore
Native Mother

Today’s world walked right into my life like a bossy, opinionated old, troll.

I have a beautiful niece I adore because she is so mater of fact in her observations.

“How did this two-year-old get so much power?” she might ask, which is my opinion, exactly.

“How did this world get so much power?” And maybe this is the reason I slip back into the world my mother created for us, so many years ago. Her Native American ways were how things were done in our home. For instance, children were often placed in the care of grandparents, usually, one at a time. Because we lived closest to my Scot-Irish grandmother, in my formative years, the most time was spent with her. Not to say I didn’t dearly love my Native grandmother, and was given some time with her, early on. Later, after the death of Gramma Bell, when I was older, Gramma Lizzie was my cohort.

Gramma Bell was strict. “Put that back where you found it!” In a stern voice, she insisted on neatness. Gramma Lizzie did too, but in a different way, like gently handing me a pan back, that had just been washed, but was not scrubbed clean on the bottom. Mother was always too busy with five children, and she could have cared less if the bottom of a pan was not shiny, clean.

Once in a while, I cross paths with a dear old friend, who was raised by her Native Mother and Father. She is my only link, I believe, to the old ways. When I see her, I promise myself more time will be spent with her, but in my mind I know this bossy, old troll-like world won’t let that happen. I’m left to only enjoy her quiet observations which are as poignant as statements made by my lovely young niece. My friend laughed with me over our weakened, aging, state. Of course, only she remembered our strength in comparison at games during our youth.

“Are we on our last legs?” She smiled.

I had to chuckle as I remembered Grandma Lizzy saying, “Oh you will get your second wind,” but I didn’t think fast enough to say that to this Native Mother, my friend, as she stood at the check out stand with her children and grandchildren around her.