The poem you posted yesterday moved me so much!
Yesterday I got to spend the afternoon with my granddaughter Hailey. We went to the university to see an exhibit about the Maidu Indians. Her third-grade class is studying indigenous peoples. They are grinding acorns and building shelters of mud and bark and papier mache. Her class had gone to the museum on a field trip, but Hailey was sick that day. Now that she is well again, I called to see about bringing her but was told that the exhibit was ended and would be dismantled the next day. I explained how disappointed Hailey was about missing it. The curator had mercy and said that if I could have her there by 3:00, she would let us in to see it. We hurried to get there after school. Hailey exclaimed about the beautiful campus, stopped to smell every flower, picked up acorns, and marveled at the impressive library building.
The curator unlocked the door to the small exhibit room, turned on a video for us, and left us, explaining that we had 30 minutes. The exhibit was titled Unbroken Traditions. It featured a Maidu woman named Lily Baker. She was 94 when the video was made. She showed the baskets made by herself, her mother, and her grandmother. She showed how the materials to make the baskets were gathered and processed for the weaving. She used redbud, sedge, maple, and willow. The baskets were intricate, beautiful, and so tightly woven that they could hold water! There were beautiful designs. Some had butterflies! Lily's grandmother and mother had made butterfly baskets, and Lily had also made her version. There was one with a turtle pattern she had made as a child. Hailey was fascinated.
The passing down of tradition through generations is such a beautiful thing. My mother loved nothing better than beachcombing. She could collect shells for hours in complete bliss. She would bring them home and rinse them and sort them. If there were no shells on a particular beach, she would pick up pebbles and rocks – she loved rocks. If there were no pebbles, she would pick up bits of driftwood.
My home is decorated with feathers, shells, and branches. This month there are gourds and pumpkins, of course. Nature is so full of beauty and wonder.
Hailey is a gatherer too. Did she inherit this trait from my mother and me? She once found a pomegranate with a perfect heart on the skin. She was sure that fairies had left it for her. Her pockets are full of pretty rocks or acorns or whatever she notices. That's the thing – she sees.
Being with Hailey is pure joy. I lay in bed after being with her, Nolan, and Aryana and smile to myself, remembering what they said and did that day. What a privilege it is to have them in my life! I know you understand now that you have Gabriel and Olivia.
Being a grandmother is a reward for growing old. I wonder, will they remember me?
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