only boyfriends dear.

I woke up at 0400 this morning.... I had to go to Blanding to do my first round of clinicals. Holy cow. I mean this reverently, not rudely.... they are like gigantic babies with grown up poopies in their diapers.

The term "bitter sweet" actually fits quite perfectly. (I've always loved that little cliche/oxymoron)

I'm really happy about the new Navajo phrases I learned.
Before I only knew, "you're mother makes love like a goat." And I felt it inappropriate to say today... (maybe tomorrow?)

I wanted to take pictures so so so so so bad. But that's violating the hippopotamus act.... so you will just have to imagine the most adorable little stinky old ladies wearing their indian skirts, loads of turquoise, and teeth prettier than yours and mine (dentures). Oh and let's not forget the braids down to their rears, even though they were bald on top. Really, it was adorable.

My funny friend, we will call her Sally (hippopotamus act, she was no sally, she was a native) told me the most horrible stories. She whispered in my ear, "You have to get me out of here!" Apparently the nurses treated her so bad. They come in when she is asleep and shake her bed for no good reason.... she was once kidnapped by a pack of wild dogs, and also, every night when the clock strikes twelve, the strippers come to do a variety show in her bedroom.

My sweet spirited friend Jane (also native, not a Jane) was the one I immediately clicked with. Born in 1910, Jane looks better then some of the residents in their 60's!!! I asked her if she had ever married, she smiled and said, "only boyfriends, dear." And gave a cute little wink. Gosh, I loved her. Then, while I was feeding her lunch, I asked her where she was from. She told me Kayenta and then began to weep. "I want to go home."

Today, the word death was redefined.
And it hurt my heart.