Sunday, February 4, 2007

The Healing Power of Food


I love Food Network. I don't get that channel at my house on the reservation and because I am at my mom's housesitting, I have been soaking it up. I would like to be a chef, but I am only a cook. I can guess what will taste good by throwing some spices together and such, but that is only because I have watched so many cooking shows. I learned from chefs. Food is so important to one's soul...more than anyone thinks.
Whenever something happens, take for example my stepdads funeral...oh let me blog about this because I always meant to but I never did because of some of the insensitivity on 360. The day after my stepdad passed this lady who is a clairvoyant (She also works for the same newspaper as I do.) called my mom. My stepdad had gone to her the night before. He told her he left and he wanted her to tell my mom some things.
He said he was sorry, he said he didn't want to go and he was just as sad and in complete shock that he died. He didn't want to leave his kids like that, and definitely didn't want to pass away in front of them. He told the lady that anytime anyone feels sad, that he will be to the right of my mom and a little behind her and to remember that. His parents had come for him but he told them that he wanted to saty until the end of the funeral, then he would go. He also told the lady that my mom had a book he didn't get to read yet. He wanted her to open it with a cigarette on top of it. (Tobacco is an offering to the spirits in my culture) The book was "The Audacity of Hope" by Barack Obama. (He was leaning left in his old age :)We found it to set it out for him...it was the only thing he put on the bookshelf into the new house they were moving into...well that and picture of my 3 youngest siblings. He had taken one load of stuff over there and had his heart attack after that. Anyway at the funeral I knew he was there to the right of my mom. When we buried him there was a balloon in one of the floral arrangments. A helium mylar balloon. It was snowing and about 20 degrees out. Have you ever seen a helium balloon in the cold? It shrinks and it won't float. When the last shovel full of dirt was put on his grave, the balloon (a rose) took off. It floated and floated as my brother and his friends sang the Sioux Honoring song. I knew it was him and I have never seen something so beautiful.
After the funeral, we gathered in the school gymnasium it was held in. There was a feast. None of us kids had to get our own plate or get in line, we were served our plates. The food was delicious, soon we were talking, laughing and reminiscing. The food started our healing process.
So I am not a chef, plus with the many other things on my mind, I don't think I could creatively and methodically cook the way they do.
But to see and hear the sounds of food being cooked on tv soothes me in some way. Food is just as important to the soul as it is to your body. It sustains us in so many ways.

15 comments:

Jeepers said...

that is a beautiful story..similar to the type of thing that happened at my grandfather's funeral..a lot people thought it was bad though because the family was laughing and eating..but it's like you said it part of the process..I love your stories..I hope you keep writing them..because you teach me a lot about the Indian culture that I never got to experience

Anonymous said...

mmmm...I love food network. and Anna B is somthing else thats for sure. Thanks for sharing.

Jeepers said...

Rachel Ray is good too..tried one of her recipies this morning..wonderful..called "oozy goozy bread" yummy

Dana Dane said...

you know Anna B is the one who told me to keep writing and that I would reach many people...that was back in December of 2005 and she still has no idea that I have a blog. :)

Jeepers said...

Dana you do need to keep writing..you have no idea how you have influenced me over the past year...I owe you a lot..your friendship has meant a lot also..but I do love your writing..although I didn't always get to comment..I love the realism, the fluff..all of it..you are an awesome person too..I know that one day you will make it writing..because you are that good..you put a lot of you in your articles, and blogs..and you just never seem to stop impressing me..I honestly hope that you never stop writing..I am going to continue to try to improve on mine as well..I even got a blog spot..just so I could keep up with you..haven't had much time to do anything with it yet..but I will..and I will keep up with my friend..hugs

DAT Baby Girl said...

oh of course you can drunk lurk me here...i just didnt take off with this because of it not really being friendly...i never can figure out how to get back to my own page or get to friends page except for links or if they comment on my page....so it just frustrates the hell outta me...lol...


Food heals me too...but it just added 30 pounds to me too....

Yo! It's Me! said...

Great story hunnie.

Ahhh...I won't cause drama on blogspot. You won't have to leave this site because of me.

You already know I love food. I think I can fall deeply and hopelessly in love with a man that can cook.

JohnB said...

Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and fat.

- Alex Levine

:)

Anonymous said...

Hey Dana. I was shocked to find you gone from 360. I saw the link to this page and decided to drop in. That is a beautiful story. The spirits are always with us. I have had contact with my Mother and Father since their passing. No weird stuff or anything, just a knowing feeling. You keep on writing my friend. It is your destiny.

Missy A said...

bueatiful and the balloon so amazing
Never stop Dana never stop

Alissa said...

That was an awesome story. When we went to the funeral for my brother-in-law, Maddie was only a month old. My mother-in-law would sit there and talk to her and she'd be looking over her shoulder and smiling. My mother-in-law was convinced that Maddie could see him. I think it brought her comfort. Having a connection is important to many people, in order for them to heal. I think the balloon was your fathers way of making sure you all felt it.

Kate said...

What a beautiful story...

too bad you couldn't feel safe posting it on 360.

Anonymous said...

Hey Ms. Dana! I was wondering where you went. I hope things work out better for you here.

Peace & love,
Loyola C.

Anonymous said...

Food is the same way in our family. We have some wonderful cooks and it is the first thing people do when there is a passing in our family. I think all people are sensative to the dead if they are still and listen. My mom said after my dad passed one day she heard what sounded like the closing of a door and knew he had moved on. That he knew she was ok and didn't need him any more.

Anonymous said...

Oh that was me above Dana