Across the Navajo Nation

Yesterday started early at May's house. May is my sister Patty's old neighbor. We are leaving our camper at May's while we return to ND. May insisted we spend the night in her house. May is a host hard to beat. May is 83 years old. May insisted I sit in an electronically controlled chair that both lowers you to a nice nap position, and raises you to a standing postion. After May had me seated she took my shoes off. Cissie walked in as May was removing my shoes. Cisse was amazed to see an 83 year old waiting on her prize lump. May explained to Cissie that a man is like a fire, if not tended they will go out. Music to my ears. Next May put a heating pad under my lower back. It was not long before I was hit with a gravity wave and a snore nap ensued.

In the Morning May had a nice breakfast set out at 5:30 so we could leave early. On our return we are taking May her two request, some pheasants, and a windshield scraper.

It turned out to be the perfect day to drive to Flaggstaff, and then on up through the Navajo Nation. We went up through Kayenta, then over to Bluff. No one should die without seeing this part of the world. Cissie loves seeing the Navajo Hogans. These traditiional buildings are everywhere. The landscape is unbeatable on a nice sunny winter day. We were close enough to Monument valley to see it in the distance.

One of the best parts of the day was a stop at the Black Mesa Trading Post. Navajos must be the ultimate soft drink consumers. Although the store was poorly stocked with most common grocery items, there was an infinite selection of things to drink. I guess when you live in the desert this makes sense. When we left the store Yei Bi Chi dancers appeared from nowhere. These were young Navajo Boys dressed in very strange costumes that somewhat resembled a bird. They were not allowed to talk, but could make bird noises. The dancers held out bags like children would at Halloween. A kind Navajo man explained to us that we were supposed to give them gifts. I threw a candy bar in the bag. Last year Cissie an I attended the fall Yei Bi Chi, which marks the end of summer. We did not know there was a ceremony to mark the begining of winter. The Navajo gentleman explained the ceremony. It somewhat resembles our Thanksgiving. Cissie asked if she could take a picture and of course the answer was no. As we drove away Cissie was going to sneak a picture. I told her to repect their request. Cissie has a hard time with being told she cannot take a picture. In Mexico a soldier with a machine gun told her no, and she was still going to take the picture. I had to explain to her no really means no when the person who says it has a machine gun.


From Bluff we went on up to Moab and on to Erin's. A cigar, eggnog, and a jump in Erin's hot tup completed the day. Almost forgot our major mission, which was to deliver to Erin a nice living room set we got at a bargain. For $150 we managed to buy a two piece couch set that was purchased a year ago for $1,700. Today we will work with the Feng Shwe to place them properly in her living room. Looks like a sunny day here in Evergreen. Later today I will post a picture with this article.