A lot of encouraging news and some sad notes as well. A member of the family in San Felipe Pueblo passed away recently, my aunt Dora Garcia (my Dad’s sister) succumbed to her final bout with cancer. She was the most hospitable and generous person I’ve ever met, always with the warmest greetings for anyone visiting her at home, and plenty of hugs for those whom she hadn’t seen often enough. We will miss her “Oh, hi, you made it, come sit down and have something to eat.” She always had one of the busiest houses’ on feast days, with at least twenty-four settings filling up three tables, you could bet on there being ten more people waiting their turn to eat. Her family has been the epitome of living what is necessary for keeping a family a part of each other’s lives. Psalm 127:3-5a says, “Sons and Daughters are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons and daughters born in one’s youth. Blessed are the parents whose quiver is full of them.” (Padilla translation). Dora’s children and grandchildren were certainly given the best of her love from the day of their births. It was that love that was returned to her in their watch-care over her in the last few years of her life, and the family that constantly stayed by her side (day & night) until the day they let her go. The numbers of family, relatives, friends, acquaintances, doctors and nurses who came to visit during the month of February was astounding. People of prominence & status, class & no class, Indians & non-Indians all made their way to that corner lot southeast of the dance plaza, just a stones throw from the rolling Rio Grande River on the east and the towering Black Mesas on the west, an exodus to once more embrace the one who will never be forgotten as the one who loved others as she loved herself. Our prayers are with Robert Garcia and Family for continued strength, peace, and comfort. To my cousins: Robert Jr. & Family; Vincent & Family; Geraldine & Family; Lambert & Family; Tim & Family; and Pam & Family – We Love You All very much and because we know that your mother’s spirit lives in each one of you we will always thank God for each one of you.

Update! New home phone number (405) 603-3691.