Then and Now

Yáʼátʼééh...

     Early days of my early years. I love thinking about my childhood. It was a very precious time. I did not live in a Hogan, but it was a 2 room house, dirt floor till later when they poured concrete. I t was made pretty simple. It was aged from the weather changing. It would snow pretty deep or rain to where it would cause erosion and very windy. The roofing would blow off and it would cause all the leaking, and  some of the cement on the outside of the house was coming off with the chicken wire exposed. On the ceiling there was stained with water spots from the roof leaking with all the rain we use to get back then. The door was not solid, when someone knocks on the door it has that vibration with the knock. The windows have that plastic covering for extra installation.  I would smell onions fried with potatoes and the aroma of strong coffee, and tortillas. I would hear an AM radio station on ( with all the static), the crackling of the woodstove making the coffee boiling and the hiss from the barrel of hot water next to the stove and hearing little lambs crying wanting to be fed by their mother. I remember I had to get up to feed the little lambs with a soda bottle before I left for school. It was a daily occurrence. It was normal for me. It was never sugar coated for me. I lived it real and in my face. It was a time in my life, I had responsibilities.
​      Today, it is very different. I wake up to hearing an alarm. Hearing semi-trucks slowing down in the distance, helicopters flying over head, and notification going off from emails, texts or just appointment alarms. I see my black out curtains, the sun barely peeking out between the curtain and wall. The ceiling fan spinning on medium speed and the soft glow from the night light casting shadows on the living room wall. I see the flickering flame of my scented candle in the corner of my bedroom. I wake up to the smell of the scented candle in "Bali Sunrise." Or the smell of the diesel exhaust from the truck idling next door. After my shower, I would smell a fruity scent from my body wash and my Herbal Essence shampoo. No time for coffee, so as I walk out, I smell the coolness of the air and I hear the soothing waves from the river. It is a different world from earlier in my life. I did not appreciate it then, but now I am very fortunate to have embraced the memories I had with my great-grandmother and grandmother. They both are very important people I am happy I shared those moments with them. I hope you enjoyed my little story. Thank you for reading and lots of love and blessings. Also I want to say thank for all the support. "A'hééhéé"