My summer vacation was 4 days long.
Above: my "sister" Barb and me and Noreen and me. I really like being the photographer and not the subject.
Sure, much of the world is talking about back to school. I haven't had a chance to share my vacation story with you yet. My friends Noreen and Bill were going camping up in Michigan to see Bill's family for a homecoming Pow Wow. I desperately needed to get away and said that I envied them.
A few days later, Noreen asked me if I was serious about going, but I don't camp. She said if I could get the time off from work, she would ask Bill to ask "our" sister Barb if I could stay in her extra bedroom. She said, yes, so I got to travel to MI to see my first Pow Wow and meet my new sister.
To make a long story short, I don't have any real siblings, but I do have "twins" and Barb, a sister given to me my Marie, Noreen's sister-in-law. Bill, Noreen's husband has 9 siblings. I've known Marie for ages, and when she found out I didn't have any sisters, she gave me Barb.
What's funny is that Barb and I are similar in several ways: we both have small piles of paperwork on our coffee tables, we both use push pins to hang pictures in the bathroom, we have similar tastes in sheets, and love color and nature. We both believe in "visions" and messages from spirit guides. I really enjoyed meeting her and her hubby, Leo.
The first night, I stayed up with Barb talking until 2 am. The next night, Noreen, Barb and I stayed up until 4, I went to bed, and they stayed up until 4am. The sun was coming up as they were going to bed.
The Pow Wow that we went to was fabulous as far as I'm concerned. Bill's brother danced and I was able to take a minute to ask him questions about the colors and different types of regalia worn.
The Pow Wow is introduced and different tribes are welcomes. Drums begin and one hears the Native American voices in song.
The colors one wears are "his colors;" the ones he is comfortable with and that his spirit guide confirmed. He carries a red hawk and has the feathers in the back.
Each person dances some similar steps, but the spirit moves them to squat or turn in different directions at certain times.
There are different types of dancers and this pow wow had a competition.
These dancers are women with bells. There are 365 bells on each costume. Women are strong and healers. They dance in the long house when someone is ill and push their feathered fans with gusto to remove the sickness.
To the right is a "fancy dancer." The colors they wear
are colorful and their movements are like birds to attract the judges' attention.
Although I didn't understand the words, I learned the word for "hi" and did feel the spirituality throughout the dancing. There were vendors selling beaded jewelry, feathers, beads, Native American marriage contracts and other items. I tasted an Indian taco, but passed on the pizza and fried bread.
I'm so grateful to Bill and Noreen and my sister Barb for my summer vacation. It was refreshing, and relaxing - we sat around talking, and did the Mackinac City tourist fudge and T-shirt shopping.
Oh, and my twin story is: Noreen, Beth and I went to Las Vegas last year. We all met 100 years ago when we worked together. Beth and I both like pink Sweet and Low, can't ride the El facing backward and like to shop together and try on the same items. Beth is 6 ft tall and I am 5 ft tall, so a short coat on her is a coat that goes down to my ankles, you get the picture. Beth also makes jewelry, but specializes in using parts from bicycles. Unlike me, Beth and Rich ride bikes and travel to exotic locations.
Beth, Noreen and I name our cars. I babysat for Beth's rabbit, Harvey, when I lived in city and she was out of town (before she and Rich got married). Beth and I both don't talk about our age, although she's been 29 for a terribly long time. I refuse to give a number and let people guess.
Speaking of Beth, she is riding for MS. If you'd like to sponsor this cause, I've included her email:
"The economy is all the news. Everyone is tightening their belts. Unemployment is at an all time high. The nerve of me to come begging for money, but here I am.
I am again signed on to do The MS Bicycle Tour – “Rock-n-Roll”. This is a 2-day ride of scenic bicycling. Starting from Graceland, Home of the “King” of Rock-n-Roll, the ride is 150 miles (over two days) of 'rolling' road on the way to Tunica, MS. The mixture of scenery is astounding. The return day is from the bling of the casino through cotton fields and the some of the poorest deltas of Mississippi. The ride is September 12 -13 this year. I am riding in this bicycling adventure, not only for the challenge of riding 150 miles in two days, but also to raise money for multiple sclerosis. MS is a devastating disease of the central nervous system that strikes young adults usually between the ages of 20 and 50. MS is devastating because it is so unpredictable.
My goal is to raise at least $1000 to support the MS foundation and this trip. I’d like to invite you to be a part of this experience, not by pedaling, (though you’re more than welcome), but by sponsoring me. I am in need of sponsors who can support by making a tax deductible donation. I want to try to make a difference in the fight against multiple sclerosis. I hope I can count on you to help me reach my goal and make a difference in the lives of those affected by MS.
INCENTIVE: Yes, there will be give aways. Yes, I am having more fun with bike chains. My latest art is pictured above. Donate $100 or more and you can select from those shown, or commission a special request. Donate $20 or more (but less than $100) and be entered in a drawing for the pictured art of your choice. The drawing will be held on September 10. So make your donations early. To donate on line my MS Webpage is at:
http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Bike/TNSBikeEvents?px=1788021&pg=personal&fr_id=11182(you may have to copy and paste this into your browser )
Click on “Donate to Elizabeth”. Thank you in advance for any support you can provide."
So, that's the story and I'm sticking to it.
Linda
Thanks for looking. Post your guess in the comments.
My summer vacation was 4 days long.
The colors one wears are "his colors;" the ones he is comfortable with and that his spirit guide confirmed. He carries a red hawk and has the feathers in the back. 
INCENTIVE: Yes, there will be give aways. Yes, I am having more fun with bike chains. My latest art is pictured above. Donate $100 or more and you can select from those shown, or commission a special request. Donate $20 or more (but less than $100) and be entered in a drawing for the pictured art of your choice. The drawing will be held on September 10. So make your donations early. To donate on line my MS Webpage is at:
