Normal Temperatures

 This week we see the return to normal temperatures, which means that my lungs will be able to handle the outdoors with much more enthusiasm.  I would really like to be out, exploring the Canadian wilds, and maybe I will, after this bout is done.  Every so often, the A1AD kicks in and does a number on my health, and really diminishes my lung capacity.  But, as with all things, it only lasts so long, and as soon as I can get back on a decent schedule, and back on a decent diet, it will straighten out!  Then health returns, and I am loving life once again.  

So, until that time, I will just be blogging, out of my bored mind!  

Have a great day!

Cold Snap

 I am a person that loves winter!  

I love skiing, skijoring, dogsledding, ice fishing, etc.  I love the sound my boots make, as I walk along the trail at 30 below!  It is a magnificent time!  

The problem is, there are many virus' that spread in the cold of winter.  Perhaps it is because we spend so much time indoors, and so little time in the sunlight, but it does affect us Alphas from time to time.  

We just had a cold snap, a couple nights that hovered around -40C.  And, even though we were able to see a little of the Northern Lights, there is a definite fall-out.  I look forward to the day, when we all are healthy and strong.  

May the Lord bless us!

A Child Of The Land

 My folks were young when they married.  They lived in a small tag-a-long camper while pregnant with me, their first child.  My dad bought an old country school-house that had been turned into a barn.  When my mother and I returned from the hospital, we moved into the old school-house.  It was drafty and cold.  

My dad worked hard, always looking for jobs, while running various business adventures.  He was gone a large portion of my childhood, working on the trans-Canada pipeline.  My mother worked hard to raise me and my brothers, but she was overwhelmed with living in poor circumstances.  This left my brothers and I to our own devices for much of the time.  I strayed here and there, often spending time at my grandmother's house.  

Gramps always being out in the field working, I would visit with Grandma.  She was a kindly woman to her grandchildren, but definitely strict, and very sassy to anyone else.  She would feed me, but would also expect work out of me.  Sometimes the amount of work did not make up for the food she fed me.  But, I loved being a part of things, and loved the stories she would tell.  Grandmother taught me many things, and I miss her.  

I loved living on the land, and never wanted to leave.  

Alpha 1 and Covid 19

 Alpha 1 anti-trypsin deficiency is a serious genetic disorder which limits the ability of the liver to protect the lungs, as well as the damage to the skin, and the liver itself.  Over time, the lungs get so diminished in their capacity to do their job, great care must be taken to keep the lungs in the best condition possible.  Unfortunately, for many of us with limited breathing capabilities, this includes the ability to breath as freely as we can, which gets in the way of the common Covid pandemic restrictions, such as the wearing of masks.  The wearing of masks inhibits the flow of air into an already diminished lung capacity.  The lungs are responsible for the exchange of air in the body, to breathe in fresh air, and breath out toxins.  If those toxins are held in place by a mask, the toxins are then breathed back into the lungs, creating a terrifying effect for those with serious lung loss.  Wearing of masks in and of itself creates a dangerous, life-threatening situation for those with serious lung disorders.  The breathing in of toxins into the lungs over-taxes the immune system, which fights off the re-breathed toxins, which stimulates the trypsin protease to fight off the toxins in the lungs, this protease of course breaks down the already diminished lung tissue, and sends an Alpha 1 person into a serious life-threatening situation, since the anti-protease cannot get out of the liver to protect the lungs.  

All of this makes life difficult for the Alpha 1 person.  Since most of the shops refuse to allow Alphas in unless they do further harm to their survival, we often have to choose mail order, or have someone do our shopping for us, or worse yet, some Alphas are forced to compromise their lives and wear a mask.  It is a horrible choice, but what can we do except try to survive in a world gone mad.  

As a side note; Lowering the immune system of the populace will not prevent the spread of the virus, it will only raise the number of cases.  Let us all try to do our part in wisdom, to raise the immunity of the populace, thereby protecting us!  

The New Medicine Man

There was once a boy who came to an old Holy Man, and asked to be taught. The Holy Man asked the boy, “Why do you want to learn?” The boy responded, “I want to become the greatest Medicine Man who ever lived. I want all people to respect and honour me, as you are respected and honoured.”   

”The path you seek is an arduous journey,” replied the old man. “I am willing. How long will it take?” asked the boy. The Holy Man thought for a moment and said, “Five years.” Jumping up, “I am willing,” the boy responded enthusiastically. The old Holy Man smiled and said, “I will teach you. Come back tomorrow morning, early.” The boy was elated.  

The boy arrived early, and they began their training. The first thing the revered old man taught was to face east and sit still. They spent the entire sunrise sitting still.  

All that week the boy arrived early, sat facing east, and sat still. Finally the boy cracked, “I want to learn how to be a great Medicine Man, and all you have me doing is sitting still. When are we going to heal people? When will you teach me the herbs? I want to be powerful and help people!” The old Holy Man did not answer a word, just sat still watching the sunrise. Impatient, the boy left.  

The next morning, the boy arrived early to find the old Holy Man already sitting in the same spot as he was yesterday, in the same position, quietly waiting for the sunrise. The boy meekly sat beside the old man. It took about two hours for the sun to completely rise, and the boy sat still most of that time.  

After the sun was clear of the horizon, the old man began to stir, and so the boy spoke gently, “Why will you not teach me?” The Holy Man answered, “We must first learn to sit still, even on the inside, and to appreciate each moment Gitchi Manitou gives. For, He will only entrust his power to those who love His people, and truly appreciate His gifts.”  

From that moment on, the boy began to follow the old man, learning the herbs, the ceremonies, becoming one with the Great Manitou and all nature. The boy would spend every hour of the day, and many times most of the night, in the forest, picking herbs, drying them, and getting ready for the day that he would finally be asked to heal someone. He spent so much time on his Medicine Man studies that he neglected school, and would not bring his mother firewood, nor help with the chores. His friends seemed to speak with him less and less, until they hardly even asked about him anymore. ‘This does not matter’, thought the boy. ‘Soon they will respect me, and honour me. My five years are almost up.’  

The day finally came. Early one morning, the boy arrived at the place where he and the old man sat each morning for five years. The revered old Holy Man was not there. In his place was a turkey feather and a simple wooden bowl. In a rage the boy screamed, “Is this all I get? After five years of service, all I get is the feather of a bird that can barely fly, and a piece of common wood? Where is my Eagle Feather? Where is my conch shell from the ocean? Where is my new ceremonial vest that represents my power? I am not a boy anymore. I am a man, and need the tools of a man.”  

The young man, still upset, searched until he found an Eagle feather, and traveled to a far city where he was able to acquire a fine brass bowl, and a new doe-skin vest, then returned to his village. He went in to see the village council, told them that he was now a fully trained Medicine Man, that he had been training for the last five years under the great Holy Man, and showed them his fine brass bowl, eagle feather, and new ceremonial vest. The village council told the boy that they would tell people about him, so the people could choose to go to him for healing or not.  

Five months passed, and no one came. The young man thought the old Holy Man must have said something to turn the village council against him, that maybe the old Holy Man was filled with pride, and did not want any competition.  

Feeling betrayed and ashamed the young man moved to a village far away. He met with the village elders and told them that he had been trained by the great Holy Man, and that he was now ready to take his place among the great Medicine Men of the people. The elders agreed to let the young man live there, and counseled him to get to know the people, to be friends with them, and soon enough he would earn their trust.  

In this new village, the young man found lodging with an elderly grandmother who had no relatives to take care of her. The young man told the old grandmother all about his training, and how he was now a great Medicine Man. The old grandmother smiled, and told all her old friends, who came to the young man with their aches, and pains, and colds. It was not prestigious work, and so the young man thought he would not become a famous Medicine Man treating the old women. He put away his fine brass bowl and eagle feather. The simple wooden bowl and turkey feather were good enough for the old women. He would save the good brass bowl and eagle feather to treat the Great Chiefs and people who were important, so that his reputation would grow.  

With time, the old grandmother grew weaker and was getting close to death. The young man became sad, for over the almost five years he had been in this new village, he had grown to love all the old grandmothers, especially this one. This old lady had become as his own grandmother, and his heart was moved with compassion toward her.  

Day in, and day out, the young man worked feverishly to keep his grandmother alive. He took care of her not only with medicine, but he chopped wood and kept her fire going, he brought her food, he did her laundry, he cleaned her house, he talked to her and sang her songs long into the night. Ceremony after ceremony, the young man would not rest. And when the old grandmother died, for four days the young Medicine Man danced around her funeral fire, cried, offered prayers, and sang songs of grandmother’s valiant life.  

The next morning, the young man was called to come meet with the village elders. The young man thought perhaps they were going to ask him to leave their village now, since he could not even keep the old grandmother alive. He did not care though. He would not dishonour Grandmother’s memory by arguing with her people. If the village elders wanted him to leave, he would leave without incident.  

Entering into the great hall, the young man saw every elder of the village, even the old Chiefs from other villages. They waved to him to come in and sit down. The chief of the village rose and spoke to the great council, telling them of the old grandmother, and of all the care that the young man gave her, not only her, but all the grandmothers of the village. Tears came to the young man’s eyes, still tender from the loss of his adopted grandmother. The Chief announced that this young man has proven himself a defender of their grandmothers, and caretaker of the old and infirm. Turning to the young man, the Chief then asked him to stay in the village, and become their Medicine Man.  

Then, from the back of the room, another man came forward. It was the revered old Holy Man. The ancient man stepped forward and placed in front of his young protégé, his own pipe, bowl, and eagle feather, which he used for the most important ceremonies. These he now passed on to the young man. Then finally, the old grandmothers of the village stepped forward, presenting the young man with a full set of new ceremonial clothes, which they had sewn themselves just for him.  

At home, the young man carefully hung all the extravagant gifts in his closet, and getting out his turkey feather and wooden bowl, began to serve his people with a new heart, and a new understanding.  

.  

Covid Free Zone

 I love living in a covid free zone!!!  

Straw

 Winter has pretty much arrive here on the Land, and we are hard at work getting the few final touches completed before winter sets in to stay.  There is so much work to be done, setting up the new ranch, it sure keeps us busy!  Here we have a load of straw being delivered, so the animals will be nice and warm and dry for the winter.  

Harvest Festival - Day 8

 This is the last day of this year's Great Harvest Festival/Camp-out.  It was a great ceremony this morning, with happy faces and shouts of glory to the Great Manitou.  I think my voice is almost raw.  

Thank-you to all who came.  We had a great time, and look forward to many more people joining us next year!