[MD] is-ness

[MarshaV]

At 10:57 AM 10/24/2007, you wrote:

>Such knowledge!  How cool are you!!!
>
>Marsha
>I'm not cool, SA asked.
>Trying to teach my children what was taught to me. I think it is
>important
>To pass on survival skills and the appreciation of natures bounty.
>They had fun, I passed on some knowledge. My oldest is on a nut
>Jag and feels empowered being able to provide food for the family,
>I try to encourage this.
>
>I remember my father showing me while we were tracking one evening.
>We were way out into the woods, My dad had hit a buck and the blood
>Trail stopped and it was getting dark. I started a fire while dad made a
>
>Lean-to. He asked me to fetch some water with an old mess kit he always
>Kept with him. He made sassafras tea with some root he pulled before
>it got too dark and then boiled some acorns, he said it would be enough
>to keep our stomachs from growling in the morning. His mind was fixed
>on that wounded buck. He did not like the fact it was not a clean kill.
>It was near noon the next day when we found it. Never would have
>If we went home and gave up the trail.
>
>You may find this odd but this time of year always reminds me of
>tracking
>Sign Among the colored leaves.
>
>Leaves nuts and blood...when I think of it now and in relation to our
>changing social norms it seems archaic and odd.

Ron,

Before I joined this group, I connected with a medicine woman through 
a council leader.  I don't remember the name of the tribe or 
council.  I wanted to learn just such things that you are talking 
about.  Her name was Eileen, and she had setup a Indian church in 
Connecticut.  We wrote for many months, and then she traveled with 
her cousin across the state to meet me.  But I screwed it up, and 
gave her the wrong telephone number.  I was very ashamed, because I 
felt underneath that screw-up was fear.  And maybe because I was 
smoking weed at that time.  The connection was lost after that.  I 
still regret it.

Cool was too frivolous a word.  I apologize.

Marsha