PIE Update
Last week I talked about how great it felt to be “back.” This week I realize that I was not back.
Ya see, as hard as it was going through the woes of Medical School it was necessary. It was necessary to experience a time of jadedness. That is not to say, it is necessary to go through hard times in order to experience good times but I am a firm believer of everything happens for a reason. I may not have liked it but it happened for a reason and I think there needs to be an appreciation for that.
We can never truly go “back” to who we were. We can’t go back to who we were because the time between who we were then and who we are now has a great effect on who we are now. I think we can experience similar feelings to “back” then and I think that is what I was getting at last week. I don’t mean to get all philosophical but part of growing up is appreciating the hard times.
Wanting to go “back” to your old self underappreciates who you are now and how far you have come.
So I am not back, but I am still feeling great!! I saw my first Navajo-speaking patient in the clinic. Gah. I sure wish I could speak Navajo. Hearing the nurse and the patient conversate in Navajo was like arriving home after being away for a long time.
Yes, ancestors. I am in this very room doing what you have enabled me to do. It was a proud moment for me.
While I am around Navajos all the time in the clinic I also spend a lot of my time with non-Navajos. Most of the providers and a few of the nurses make up the non-Navajo group. Seeing the non-Navajos naturally interact with patients and Navajo staff gives me a sense of happiness. I grew up seeing a different pediatrician and family practice doctor at every visit in Shiprock. I am happy to report there is a good number of them who want to stay around and have no intention of leaving any time soon.
The non-Navajos seem to really appreciate our culture while understanding they are an outsider. They say “yá’át’tééh” and “hágoónee’”. And you can tell who has been here for a long time by the way they try to be intentional with their Navajo accent. It's cute. These are the type of people I want to stay. These are the type of people I want here when my career takes me back to Shiprock. The feeling of community among the family docs has me excited to work with them one day.
Ladybug
Our little Ladybug continues to earn more and more spots. Her latest spot sprouted after her first day of college! While she has many more spots to earn and grow into there is no doubt she grew up the fastest. I swear it was just yesterday when we were picking her up from that pre-school in Kirtland in that neighborhood where Jenny used to live. Her time there produced one of my favorite pictures of her. She is in an all-white graduation cap and gown showing off her cute little smile and holding a little diploma. Iconic. She was excited about school then and I can tell she is excited about school now. Stepping into the void of academia has her feeling a little uneasy but there is no doubt by the power of her own conviction and by the power of hummingbirds she is going to thrive at Fort Lewis College. You might even say she will “soar” to the greatest heights. Go Skyhawks. ;)
I say Ladybug grew up the fastest because she is the baby of our family. Being young altogether fades away as you and your siblings get older. We are past the times of playing sock ball in the living room being careful not to throw Ladybug out too hard. We are past the times of cruising around in the gator. No more swimming in the ditch racing sticks and making mud pies. So when those days ended, we were left to look at each other and where were going. We look to what is next after high school instead of just looking forward to Chef Boyardee after getting off Bus no. 46.
One of my earliest memories of Ladybug occurred in our old trailer in Bloomfield. Mom got after me after I was caught jumping back and forth over Ladybug. I remember just being so excited to have another baby sibling. So excited that I just wanted to do all the things to make her smile even if that meant risking falling on top of her. Mom used to prop her up on the mattress in the living room of that good ol’ trailer which was also serving as Kowyn and I’s bed. No idea why but we liked sleeping out there. We liked the addition of Ladybug to our bed too.
Since day one Kowyn and I have been messing with Ladybug. Ladybug most definitely has a few spots to show for it too. However, be careful. Some of those spots were a couple of flops. Ladybug sure did know how to flail across the room after just a light brush of the arm. The flopping did not work every time but it definitely did more times than not.
I truly cannot imagine our lives without our Ladybug. From her support to her honesty, Ladybug never wavers in being her authentic self. I feel so lucky to be a small part of her journey to racking up those spots. I look forward to letting you know you have a new spot way back there. Back there where it might be difficult for you to spot.
We are all so proud of you Ladybug. Keep showin em’ how you earn em’.
WATTAAA BUGGG
Songs that remind me of Ladybug: Before I Forget by Slipknot (iykyk) and Cigarette Daydreams by Cage the Elephant
A movie that reminds me of Ladybug: King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. Obviously.
See y’all next week.
Rope
P.S. I promise to release that Muse article soon.