The day the planets lined up

Did you ever meet someone in your life and you felt like you was supposed to meet them? That somehow all the stars and planets and moon and junk were alligned just right at the moment you met? somebody that can say one sentence to you and have no idea how they completely changed the course of your life? That happened to me on Tuesday. Let me tell you the story.


I signed up for my classes. For now I am taking the basics, which I still need. When I went to sign up, I had intended to sign up for elem ed. But nobody was in that day from that dept. So they send me to the Social Work dept and tell me that they can still help me sign up for Elem Ed. I have been wanting to be a teacher for so long. Like since the first moment I stepped into a classrom, smelled the crayons, ate the paste and learned the ABC's from the Letter People. There was never a doubt, it was like yeah...someday I will be a teacher. It got to be such a common thought, dream, whatever that I soon didn't feel that fire for it burning in me anymore. It was like saying "I'm going to check mail."
So anyway I meet Jeff....this is the moment I was talking about. At first I didn't realize I was supposed to meet him. I hadn't realized that Neptune was alligned with Jupiter's small silver moon and the rings of Saturn at the time. We shook hands and he started to ask me why I wanted to be a teacher. I was like, "I don't know anymore, I guess I just always have."
HE then asked me what I thought of Social Workers.
I smiled.
He said "Go ahead, give it to me."
I did. I told him a BRIEF summary of all my troubles with Social Services, what I thought of them, how they made my life hell...yada yada yada. Jeff, if you read this, you read that BRIEF word right. I have MORE! lol. Anyway, at this point Jeff started to tell me about being a social worker. About what it meant to him. About what he hoped to see for the future of the youth here on the reservation. How he thought so much could be done for the youth by letting them identify with themselves, as a culture and using the values of the Lakota people to help with this. Intergrating it into the studies of the Social Work Dept. He used the word "Wellness" instead of Social Work, I liked that. At this point Mercury and Mars joined the allignment and he lit a fire in me that is burning so bright, I can't wait to start classes.
I have been contacted by Senator Thune's office, first of all for me leaving him a nasty message about his Christmas newsletter that I got in my email, where he didn't wish Senator Johnson well. So of course they called to apologize and point out where he included him in a list of people on his Christmas prayer list....to which I already deleted it. So then I started to tell them that they never answered my previous email about Welfare Reform. We had a long discussion, to which I was called back twice. I talked to the head of the Economic Assistance Dept. in this state, am getting info from them on their studies, which I had to laugh...they only have the postive feedback. They don't have any negative...of course, why would they? Anyway, Thune's office encouraged me to write it down, which I am going to do...throwing that shit down on paper, so they can see what an awful system it is they have in place.
Part of that will be my essay I have to write for a scholarship. I am SO anxious to make change here for the youth and for families. And all that now because I met Jeff, the day the planets lined up and a comet flew by. Because of that I now have a burning desire to get this degree and stay on the reservation. I know now, that we were meant to meet. Thanks Jeff.


The Woope Sakowin (The Lakota's Seven Sacred Laws of Life.)

1) Wacante Oganake, "To help, to share, to give, to be generous."

2) Wowaunsila, "Pity, Compassion."

3) Wowauonihan, "To Repect, to Honor."

4) Wowacintanka, "Patience and Tolerance."

5) Wowahwala, "To be Humble, To Seek Humility."

6) Woohitike, "To be Guided By Your Principles, Disciplined, Bravery and

Courage."

7) Woksape, "Understanding and Wisdom”