g r e a t  g r a y  o w l

B L A C K E L K

Black Elk was an Oglala Sioux holy man from the Dakotas born in the late 1800's.   His visions and wisdom have become prophesy.

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I was four years old then,  and I think it must have been the next summer that I first heard the voices.  It was a happy summer and nothing was afraid,  because in the Moon When the Ponies Shed (May) word came from the Wasichus [the White Men] that there would be peace and that they would not use the road any more and that all the soldiers would go away.  The soldiers did go away and their towns were torn down;  and in the Moon of Falling Leaves (November),  they made a treaty with Red Cloud that said our country would be ours as long as grass should grow and water flow.  You can see that it is not the grass and the water that have forgotten.

　

Maybe it was not this summer when I first heard the voices,  but I think it was,  because I know it was before I played with bows and arrows or rode a horse,  and I was out playing alone when I heard them.  It was like somebody calling me,  and I thought it was my mother,  but there was nobody there.  This happened more than once,  and always made me afraid,  so that I ran home.

to you and yours, Happy Thanksgiving!

Linus van Pelt:
What are you going to do on Thanksgiving,  Charlie Brown?
Charlie Brown:
My mother and Dad,  and Sally and I are all going to my grandmother's for dinner.
Sally Brown:
Why don't you come along,  Linus?  We can hold hands under the table.
Linus van Pelt:
Blah.
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Chris Turk:  
You know,  I love how kids of divorce really have the market cornered on family dysfunction.  But let me share with you a typical Thanksgiving at the Turk household:  It starts with my mother yelling at my sister for yelling at my grandmother who's yelling at the television screen,  which happens to be the microwave.

And then my militant brother Jabari  -  formerly Bob  -  gives my father attitude for using the word black,  even though he's referring to the turkey.  Which, by the way,  only got burnt because instead of turning the oven off,  my bi-polar aunt Leslie tried to shove her head in it.  But you know what we do?  We kiss... and we hug... and we apologize for all the things we said.. . 'Cause a month later,  we gonna get together and do it again at Christmas!
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Edith Bunker:
I ain't been so proud of you since Uncle Willie cut his finger carving the Thanksgiving turkey and you stopped the bleeding by tying it up with the string they used to tie up the turkey's you-know-what with.
Archie Bunker:
How can you do that all in one breath?

B U L L....the pitbull

BULL sayin' Mama

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Aww.    Here's a video of a rescued pitbull named Bull saying,  "mama."    Bull is the very blessed doggie of a wonderful lady from BON's B.A.A.C. fan page.    She got Bull from a gangster who was ready to murder Bull 'cause he wouldn't fight another pitbull who was pregnant and he lost the fight,  in spite of the fact that the mom-to-be gave Bull a few scars,  anyway. 

This video clip is only the second time he said mama,  and I guess he's doing it a lot better now! 

This very special lady says that he's her boy.  At first after she rescued him,  Bull wouldn't let her touch him and she had to keep him tied up.    But through undeniable love and wonderful care,  Bull came around and is now her big baby!   "Hes my boy!"   We know how much our animals love us unconditionally.    All they want is to be loved back and treated with respect and with dignity that they so unconditionally deserve. 

Look at those eyes.  You can see the betrayal,  and the hurt,  and the pain;  and yet you can also see the love shinin' through.   You can see that Bull is beginning to trust again.   I bet those eyes will look totally different as the years pass;  eventually,  you won't even be able to see the pain 'cause that's what love does.   It heals all wounds.

o u r h e r o s

Today in Minnesota,  it is another beautiful day.   The warm sunshine on a late fall afternoon.   A cardinal calling outside the window.   The clearness of the blue sky.

Today  -  yes,  another beautiful day.   And I am sitting here enjoying it in safety and with peace.   With the security in knowing that I will still be here tomorrow living in safety and with peace.   And with hope.

Today is Veterans Day.   Veterans wherever you may be,  I hope that you are also living in safety and with peace.   I thank you,  for without your protection,  I would probably not be living in safety,  nor with peace.
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Today here in Minnesota, the Fort Snelling Memorial Rifle Squad laid to rest another veteran with full military honors.   The final salute.

For over 30 dedicated years,  this voluntary rifle squad has never left a comrade behind.   This squad has said over 57,000 good-byes to our nation’s veterans.   Each week of the year for over 30 years.   They come from different times,  and from different wars.

They have shared the special distinction and humbling experience of burying one of the Marines who helped plant the American flag at Iwo Jima.
　
The founder was only 17 years old when he dropped out of high school to join the Marines during World War II.   He noted the goodbyes are especially poignant for the older veterans,  who have little to virtually no mourners because they have all gone before him.

In sun,  rain,  snow,  and ice they have been there.   And they will continue to be there.

One member recalled that one day,  he overheard a young boy's answer in response to a statement that the men in the squad were also the men who had protected our country.   The child replied,   “Those old guys?”

s a n d man

I hereby volunteer to be James Hetfield's official group...I mean,  #1 fan.   He's a Leo.   Just look at that mane!   And he's a chopper man.

a n i m a l l o v e

b   i   k   e   r   s  *  a   g   a   i   n   s   t  *   a   n   i   m   a   l    *  
 c   r   u   e   l   t  y   (b a a c)
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I am a new member of BON’s,  Bikers Against Animal Cruelty (BAAC) Fan Page.    I was lucky to have grown up with many beloved pets in all different shapes and sizes.   I’ve had irreplaceable cat and dog friends,  fish,  gerbils,  and even a Nubian goat once named Butterfly.    I’ve taken care of my daughter’s lizards.    My last fish was a male betta I named Ozzy.    He lived for almost three years in his little bowl.

I’ve tenderly cared for baby rabbits,  and injured birds.   I’ve experienced the great sadness of having to put a beloved pet to sleep.    I drive carefully in areas where animals might be out  -  even those annoying squirrels darting back-and-forth across the roads (they know you’re there!!!!)

Just a few of the great qualities you can learn from caring for pets,  include humility,  gratitude,  unconditional love,  compassion,  selflessness,  and even responsibility.

The never-ending healing powers of animal love.    Companions to so many.    Animals also bring people together in positive ways.   Who doesn’t love a baby animal?   Even nations can share animal friendships,  such as China’s Panda bears and the many wildlife sanctuaries around the world.

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This is Elsa,  the Kenyan lion from the true story,  Born Free