I was so ashamed and so angry this time around. I had the opportunity to visit Wounded Knee, and the chapter in the book reminded me of my own feelings while there. It is a place haunted yet peaceful. I hardly dared to walk on the ground. I was struck the beautiful flowers on the graves. I also saw lots of “things” left for those buried there–cans of Pepsi, baby bottles–things the spirit needs on its journey.

A thought came to me the other day. Everywhere I went on Pine Ridge I was greeted warmly and felt no sense of “ooh there’s a white person.” As I stopped at my little convenience store here in the suburbs, I wondered what would happen if an Indian walked into that store. I doubt he or she would feel as welcome as I felt on Pine Ridge.

I thought I would go there a make a difference. Perhaps I did, just a litte, but the difference is in me. I came away a different person.

Summer is supposed to be lazy, and I’m a teacher, so it’s really supposed to be lazy (at least that’s what most people think). I too enjoy the sunrise and sunset on my deck. I’m learning to listen to the world with new ears and quit talking so much. That is very difficult.

I know, Mr. Nerburn, that you will insist the movie version of Neither Wolf Nor Dog will be true to Dan. While on Pine Ridge I met a man who played a roll in Thunderheart. He was a dancer in the Powwow scene. He said more than once he and others do not like Graham Greene. He won’t play Dan or Grover, will he? He’s not even Lakota.

I want to scream at all of the injustices that have been heaped upon the Indian people. I feel like my voice will never be heard. So, I guess I’ll continue to do what I did this summer. I’ll go back to Pine Ridge and do a little painting and a little mowing and a little trash pickup and learn more about myself. I guess if a book like Neither Wolf Nor Dog can’t change things, I can’t either.

Beats me.

I too savor the pre-noise hours before the sun comes up with just the birds singing. It’s not as cold here in Montana as when I was a kid. Global warming I guess. Hardly any snow. Summer is for gardening.

However, I’m afraid that I’m sitting here a bit green with envy as summer in New Orleans is a very different experience. I love your description of your porch time filled with the chorus of loon calls and starry nights. However, I can surely appreciate your having paid the price of “winter snows, ice, and thirty below temperatures”! Now is our “paying the price” time with the heat, humidity and fears of an active hurricane season. We can hardly wait until October! In the meantime we are grateful to have air conditioning, good books and blogs to read such as yours.

Have another sip of wine for us while you take in all the beauties of nature. Even though it has been about 35 years since we lived in the north, we still remember those times, both beautiful and difficult.