A FINAL FAREWELL...

Hello fabulous friends who continue to check this blog, and those who stumble upon it all the same...

I am writing from the middle of my 3 weeks of summer school. It has been an interesting past few weeks, and I cannot exactly find the appropriate words to express my combination of grief and anticipation. I managed to cry my way through the end of school and saying goodbye to my colleagues and fellow volunteers, but I'm still holding out on my last goodbyes for one more week.

This post will most likely be my final time adding to the website- at least for now- and I thought it was good timing, since I am sitting here with Ms. Daisa One Feather, the brilliant shining student and friend that she has become to me. I think it would be lovely to have her contribute a bit to my blog as a final farewell, knowing that this is an ending to one era of my life; concurrently it is also the beginning of a new era filled with the promise of remaining in touch with those students and friends who have touched my life. For my hope remains that when I leave, my heart will stay.

So, without further ado, I give you the wisdom and ramblings of one of the most inspirational students at Red Cloud....

Em: Daisa, how are you doing my fine lady?

Daisa: Hello miss emily!! i went to a powwow this weekend!! All weekend i hung out with Al, and Dom, and Duane. Miss emily!! did you ever smell Dom? He smells sooooooooo soooooooo good!! You should seriously smell him. And no we are not destined to be together FOR LIFE!
Soooo duane- hes sooo weird!! All weekend he just followed me around! You know what i think? he still likes me, but thats not surprising. And they, my sister and her buddies, were calling me and him Delmar and Lynda (my parents names) all weekend. So on saturday night me and my sister went to her friends house. And of course Dom was there and i was extremely happy because i got to smell him again (:

Em: I believe I have smelled Dom at your request one time. :) Of course it doesn't mean you're destined for life, but I swear I heard that before! (maybe Glamour magazine?) :) Hmm, the powwow was pretty exciting, huh? Tell me a little about the weather and how you did...

Daisa: It rained alll weekend!! and i wanted to go the carnival soo badly, but i had no one to go with. Saturday morning we had to go through that stupid parade... i got to drive though! it was awesome although my mom was being kind of Mrs. Krabs. And i didnt wanna say anything but she was waving at everyone trying to be all happy. So yeah OHHH OHH OHH!!!!! i got 1st!!! yayyy... and in womens traditional, my first time of winning the women's division!

Em: I know! I was so proud of you... you do look quite magestic when you're out there dancing- oh, and thanks so much for inviting me to dance with you during the inter-tribal dance! You're such an 'includer.' One of the many qualities I love about you.

Daisa: Yes Emily, although you know i did have to practically carry you out there. You being so paranoid about not being in an "outfit".

Emily: Well, that's true. I mean- my raincoat wasn't exactly as beautiful as most of the regalia that everyone else wears. And I did happen to be the only white person too. :):)

Daisa: (no comment, daisa just stands there and smiles)

Emily: Okay, I actually love being white, and love that Wyatt gives me so much crap about being racist... because I take it as a compliment. If he really thought I was racist, he would most likely avoid me at all costs.... Well, it's about time for you to catch your ride. Do you have any final words of wisdom for my friends?

Daisa: If you guys need any assistance with fashion planning im here to help!! (: ohhh ohh and umm YOU NEED TO SERIOUSLY DANCE ONCE IN AWHILE!!! better yet- with Emily (: soo again it was nice meeting you guys and i wish i could see your round cheeesy faces after reading this but unfortunately i cant ): jk!! im happy (: not sad!! so have fun and JUST DANCE!!!

Em: Thanks so much, Daisa, this is perhaps the closest some of my readers will ever come to meeting you, and that is most unfortunate, you're right. But still I have the hope that everyone interested in my pine ridge reflections will take time to visit here someday- and who knows, but you might have just opened your own boutique downtown for them to visit! :)

Okay, since I feel I couldn't sum up my time here much better than to share with you the relationships I have developed and how important they are to me, I shall leave this post with that- a candid conversation between Ms. Daisa One Feather and I. Who knows, perhaps I shall return to this blog with further news of the wonders Daisa is doing for her tribe and for herself. :)

Until you hear my wandering mind and thoughts again, I bid you a brilliant time of discovering the vast places of wonder our God and Creater has made. For me, Pine Ridge has been one of the most lovely and meaningful places I have discovered!

Much love- and of course, smiles for everyone. :):)

Emily