Home Is Where the Heart Is

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in

my heart)i am never without it….  e.e. cummings

Can a place have a heart?  Of course, a people can…

I am off to home after a week in a place that has my heart.  Home has my heart as well, but Pine Ridge has my heart (or Cante) as well.  How can this be?

Everyday I think of Pine Ridge.  I think of the people there.  I think of the environment.  I think of the landscape that takes my breath away every visit.  I can picture it in my thoughts.  But I am also thinking about home now.  I have been away for more than a week.  I miss my husband, Jim, who always supports me no matter what.  I miss my son, John, who wishes that he had come on this trip.  I miss my animals, too, who come to mind every time I see a rez dog…

The week finished up at Rosie’s with the students horseback riding.  This was the most highly anticipated event of the week for some reason, and I’m glad that they were able to experience this.  Brett rode Pepper, who has a new baby, Morning Star, and the baby tagged along on the ride for some extra excitement.  I am still kicking myself for not bringing enough lancets.  The time at the Singing Horse would probably have given us a chance to do at least 5 more screenings.  My only option for getting lancets was to drive in to Pine Ridge–2 hours round trip–with no guarantee that I would actually be able to get any.  I have driven so much this week that two hours round trip was just not a possibility with looking at a 17 hour drive home tomorrow.  Lesson learned–I will bring more than enough of ALL supplies next year.

After horseback riding, we went to Wounded Knee.  I met E. to pass along a donation for her trailer repair.  Her trailer was severely damaged in a hail storm earlier in the summer, with all windows being broken out and the siding being damaged.  I had hoped to see her mom and dad there, too, but they are getting ready for Sundance and could not make it.  E.  is doing great–now enrolled in a Master’s program online at of all places Bradley.  She hopes to open her own wound clinic on the reservation after she graduates with her NP.  This would be fantastic–for her and for the rez.

There is now security posted at the Wounded Knee Cemetery to discourage those who are drunk from approaching visitors for money.  I have to say that this new development made me extremely happy.  I took the students up for a visit, and the hill was quiet and somber which is the appropriate environment for viewing this landmark for such a terrible event.

After a quick early dinner at the motel that I am pretty sure that I was actually asleep for, we had a brief siesta and then went to Badlands National Park.  We went to the big park this time by the town of Interior.  With hopes to see the buffalo and more, we drove around the park.  The students did some impromptu (unsanctioned by me) climbing.  Everyone lived through this, thank God, so driving and photos were the focus from there.  We did not get to see any buffalo, but did catch a gorgeous sunset from one of the overlooks.

The next morning called for an early start to allow a visit to Custer State Park.  We said goodbye to Brett, who would be continuing his trip with a family vacation, and headed into Rapid City.  We had to do the wildlife loop at Custer twice to be able to see anything, but it was worth it.  On the second drive through, we saw the burros!  The herd is smaller after last year’s fire, but they were just as friendly and hungry as in past trips.  There was also the cutest baby burro!  After feeding them a bag of carrots and taking many photos, the students were ready to head to the airport.

This trip has been the usual whirlwind with an added challenge for me of trying to grade assignments for a different class.  With wifi/internet issues all week, this something that I will not do again.  I need to be able to focus completely, and I spent the week worrying about grading. Blah! In fact, since grades are due today, I am stopping to spend the night in Sioux Falls so that I can use some reliable internet.

I know that Pine Ridge will never be my home in the true sense of the word–I am an outsider and always will be.  But I will miss it and will look forward to returning.  Until then, I will enjoy my time at home in Indiana with my family.