Tuesday–Patience and Flexibility are the words of this day!

Tuesday was a bit of a different day than planned, but I have learned that you cannot have concrete plans here.  We were going to do another block party, but Ray had to move it to a very small community and thought that we would not see any adults.  Instead we planned to set up in Pinky’s Store, but after arriving and deciding that we couldn’t set up outside (the wind was blowing 50mph+…..I had sand and dirt in my ears!), we couldn’t all (all 16 of us) fit in the store with them expecting food deliveries.   So….flexibility being of the utmost….we moved on–we delivered supplies to the Porcupine Clinic and then went to visit the prairie dogs!  We also were able to visit the Badlands National Park White River Visitors Center.  We spoke to the Ranger, a Lakota man named Marcel for a while, and he taught some Lakota words and sang a song in Lakota especially for us to give us strength and fortitude during our nursing care (both now and in the future).  Of course, this made me cry (the first time of the trip though so I am doing good!).  The name of the song was “Woman Dancer”.  This was such an outstanding experience….perhaps a reward for our patience and flexibility?????  We attempted to drive to Red Shirt Table but had to abort that mission when we came across a dog that had been abandoned in the middle of nowhere that was obviously NOT a rez dog–after 30 minutes of discussion with some tourists in an RV from Colarado, the decision was made that they would take the dog.  Again, a reward for patience–I thought that I was going to end up with a dog for the van.  We saw some beautiful scenery and even though we did not make it to Red Shirt Table, the trip was worth it.  I also ran over a snake!  Tried to get my picture taken with a cow, but I guess I can’t have everything!