#OregonUnderAttack #NativesBeLike pic.twitter.com/GuvPsDkjDu
— Megan Red Shirt-Shaw (@mredshirtshaw) January 5, 2016
Seriously:
As reported by the Washington Post:
… “The protesters have no claim to this land. It belongs to the native people who continue to live here,” Burns Paiute tribal chair Charlotte Rodrique said at a press conference Wednesday.
The occupation of the refuge, now in its fourth day, has been part demand for local control over public land and part protest over how the federal government manages the Western landscape. Bundy, an Idaho rancher and the son of Cliven Bundy, and his followers stake claim on vast stretches of federal land in the West and have vowed to occupy the refuge until a complete investigation into historical land deeds and ownership rights yields a transfer of land control to local interests. Bundy supporter and refuge occupier LaVoy Finicum, who lives near Bundy’s father in Arizona, said that a paper trail would reveal an illegal transfer of sale from private ownership to the government and that an investigation into historical Western real estate sales would unwind federal control of the lands.
But Sara J. Hawley, a member of the local Paiute tribe, said the land has never belonged to anybody but the Paiute.
“The Burns Paiute Tribe has not ceded any of its rights in the tribe’s ancestral territory,” added Rodrique, pointing to a treaty — never ratified in Washington — that means many Westerners are technically squatting on Paiute land.
“They wanted us to give up our land,” Rodrique said. “We never did it.”
In 1868, the Burns Paiute Tribe entered into a treaty with the federal government that among other things, guaranteed the protection and safety of the Paiute people and their cultural resources. Six tribe band leaders signed the treaty but the U.S. Senate never ratified it. Without ratification, the agreement was voided and a legal transfer of land never occurred, Rodrique said.
“We never gave up our aboriginal rights,” she said. “We did have a treaty but it wasn’t ratified, so therefore it was a contract that was never completed. And so we as a tribe view that this is still our land.”…
“They say they don’t want to bother the community, but you know what? Our kids are sitting at home right now when they should be at school. They’re jeopardizing, they’re scaring our people around here,” [Burns Paiute tribal councilman Jarvis] Kennedy said…
The NYTimes says the non-Paiute locals mostly aren’t much enamored of Bundy and his VanillaISIS cult, either:
BURNS, Ore. — Hundreds of residents crammed into a building at the Harney County Fairgrounds here on Wednesday night, far surpassing the capacity of the rows of brown metal folding chairs set up on a concrete floor, to talk in often deeply emotional terms about their community — and just who should be in charge of its destiny…
“You don’t get to come here and tell us how we get to live our lives,” said Sheriff Dave Ward of Harney County, who led the meeting, and the crowd erupted into applause and cheers. “I’m here to ask those folks to go home and let us go back to our lives in Harney County,” he added, again to huge applause…
The crowd, many in baseball caps and hunting jackets in the chilly room, talked about fears of long-term economic decline, and short term pain as well as schools, government offices and some businesses have shut down out of safety concerns since the refuge was taken over last Saturday…
Economic pain was a clear context. About one in five residents in Harney County lives in a household with income below the federal poverty threshold, according to federal figures from 2013. The county, which lost 4 percent of its population from 2010 to 2014, according to census figures, also has the second-highest proportion of jobs of any Oregon county paying the minimum wage, almost 10 percent. Only neighboring Malheur County was worse off, according to a state report last month.
Federal policies, some people said, were clearly to blame. Cutbacks in the timber harvest in the nearby Malheur National Forest beginning in the 1990s, people said, had led to the closing of a wood mill that was one of the region’s biggest employers with repercussions, and anger, that were still being felt…
Before the meeting broke up, the sheriff gave no hint as to what the law enforcement strategy would be, except that he hoped and believed there would be a peaceful resolution to the occupation…
Of course, you can count on the worst people in the world to support each other, so another little gang of cultists showed up, looking for free publicity:
… [T]he People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) delivered vegan jerky to the militants on Wednesday… The occupiers gladly accepted the vegan fare, which is made of soy, seitan and shiitake mushrooms and packs a bigger protein punch than beef. At least one self-described hardcore carnivore occupying the refuge promptly announced his love for the meatless treats, a PETA spokesperson said…
Coin operated
WTF was PETA doing there? They have NO skin in this game….
That said…Bundy, INC initially said they were there for the people of Harney Co. How’s that working out, you ignorant ammosexual peasants?
Emerald
I keep wondering if these idjits might be related to Ted Bundy. He was a Republican, don’t forget.
Sloane Ranger
Wouldn’t it be funny if one result of this was a court ruling that the Paiute were indeed the legal owners of the land, including that owned by the Hammonds’ and other ranchers?
Or is that never going to happen?
Coin operated
@Sloane Ranger: With a Republican Senate hell-bent on defeating *any* proposal that has a Democratic flavor to it, I predict they’d ratify that 100 y/o treaty faster than it takes a bunch of rednecks to occupy a federally-managed wildlife reserve
seaboogie
@Coin operated:
PETA is another cult of crazies – feeding on emotion, disinformation, and sniffing the glue that they have manufactured. It gets them high, and then they do this: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nathan-j-winograd/peta-kills-puppies-kittens_b_2979220.html
Fuck them in the ass sideways with a rusty pitchfork – twice!
And now I am going to lie down in my bed with my 20 year old kitty who lives there (because arthritis), amongst the pee-pads and her room service tray. She’s not an especially charismatic cat – but we’ve been companions for 20 years, and there is a lot of knowing-ness there.
seaboogie
Hey AL, how on earth did I end up in moderation for that post? Can you get me out of moderation so that I can sleep – even though you apparently never do that restful pause?
lol chikinburd
Posting on a cot on an ICU waiting room, unable to sleep. Mother died in this ICU five hours ago. Was with her to the end, holding her hand. Heard snoring before her breathing faded out, so she died asleep, out of pain, on her own terms (her living will refused any breathing intubation or resuscitation that might otherwise have been attempted last-ditch, at great discomfort to her), and knowing we loved her, if still altogether too soon. Now have everyone to contact and all sorts of affairs to wrap up mostly on my own, which will suck in ways I’d rather not go into.
Sorry if this seems self-indulgent or depressing, but everyone who’s talked to me (the hospital staff here are wonderful) stresses the importance of taking care of myself, and since I’m an almost hermetically private person who just got a lot more isolated, it’s occurred to me that trying to break that isolation and connect with humanity more broadly is going to be essential to the project of just staying together. So I guess that means blathering at someone in the middle of the night; lucky you.
Hope you’re all well.
seaboogie
Thank you, Dearie….and one of us must go off to the land of nod….
raven
@lol chikinburd: It does help to express your feelings at a time like this. Best to you.
Tinare
@lol chikinburd: So sorry for your loss. Not self indulgent at all. That is hard to bear all on your own. Do take care of yourself.
seaboogie
@lol chikinburd: Oh Sweetheart….
I am so sorry for your loss and I do remember having to make all of those phone calls, and the arrangements…it’s so surreal. I truly understand the solitary undertaking of the experience because of necessity, and am also curious as to why you are still there..I hope just resting til morning with folks who will support you.
I have been through this more than once, so if you need a shoulder or a consult on anything, email me at bethintib at gmail. It was a little bit easier for me because I had an awesome dog at the time. The loss of that pup – three years ago now – is still quite poignant for me; he saw me through an astonishing period of loss and upheaval.
I send you a heartfelt and understanding hug – and glad that you reached out.
Mike J
I never know what to say besides I’m sorry, so I’ll leave it at that.
Schlemazel
@lol chikinburd:
My sympathy on your loss, there must be some comfort in knowing she left in the way she wanted, without the added suffering of needless medical intervention. Thanks for feeling you could share with us hopefully it will speed your healing.
Mustang Bobby
@lol chikinburd: Please don’t feel as if you are burdening us; I hope it helps lessen the pain to share your loss.
geg6
@lol chikinburd:
January truly is the cruelest month. Lost my dad on Jan. 2, 1999 and my mom two years later on the 28th. It’s so hard to wade through all the rigamarole while you’re so emotionally stunned. Listen to the pros and take care of yourself. My most healing thoughts go out to you.
JPL
@lol chikinburd: I’m so sorry and please post whenever you want.
BillinGlendaleCA
@lol chikinburd: My condolences.
@geg6: No kidding, Friday will be the 34th anniversary of my dad’s passing.
ETA: OTOH, my b-day is 2 weeks from today.
seaboogie
@lol chikinburd: You know how folks say “If there is anything I can do, let me know…” and you thank them and then nothing happens after that? This is different. Please contact me if you need anything (except money;-). Please feel very free to reach out to me. I really can help in my way and experience. It’s bethintib at gmail. I am a hermit also, too. It’s just me and the lady ant who is crawling all over my laptop right now….
NorthLeft12
well, I guess I was wrong. These Yeehadists are standing up for some of the most treasured American values; personal profit, greed, selfishness, obliviousness, and ignorance.
OzarkHillbilly
@lol chikinburd: It’s never easy.
@BillinGlendaleCA: It has long been known that there is a spike in deaths around holidays and major events. Before my wife’s daughter got married, I told her to not expect her mother to live for much longer after it. This was a woman who had survived war, hunger, 2 bouts of cancer, leukemia, heart attacks and the recent death of her husband. She was unable to travel from Spain for the wedding, so my wife had it broadcast on the web so Monse could be a part of her only grandchild’s wedding too. 3 days later she was gone.
Satby
@lol chikinburd: I’m so sorry lol chikinburd. Even if you knew it was near, the end is very hard. Do take care of yourself and come here often to let us know how you are, to chat, or whatever. My nym is a link to my shop, where you can message me too, if you need to talk.
seaboogie
@NorthLeft12: agreed with your snark, but we are comforting @lolchickinburd right now, after the passing of her mother. Wee hours, and all that…
Hopefully her tears have earned her some sleep…..
Schlemazel
@BillinGlendaleCA:
I’d agree about January sucking. Friday is the 64th anniversary of my arrival.
BillinGlendaleCA
@Schlemazel: Another person that shares Elvis’ b-day.
ETA: My mom’s brother and a friend also shares a b-day with Elvis.
Satby
@OzarkHillbilly: They often hang on if they can to reach a milestone. My dad did that for my sister’s wedding, which she had offered to delay, but he insisted go ahead. It even seemed to rally him. But he was gone as soon as he knew she was home from her honeymoon. Protective to the end.
seaboogie
@Schlemazel: So it was a particularly chilly October for your parents, ’round about 65 years ago…and their fond embrace gave us “Schlemazel”… Bless them! If not for their friskiness in frigid weather, this blog would be so much the poorer without your commentary.
OzarkHillbilly
@seaboogie: Your math is a little off. January babies are conceived around April.
Schlemazel
@seaboogie:
On my planet it takes 9 months and I was very early so not so chilly May or even June. I would be OK if they had missed.
Elizabelle
@lol chikinburd: Hugs. So sorry about your mom, but a peaceful end, with a loved one nearby, is mercy (if too soon, as you said).
Glad you posted, and I think everyone wants to hear more from you. It’s tough.
debbie
@Coin operated:
They’re attention whores.
debbie
@lol chikinburd:
My mother died in the same manner; it couldn’t have been more gentle. Occasionally there are moments of grace in this world. I’m sorry for your loss.
Tommy
@Schlemazel: Well it was shorter for me. A month early. Mom likes to joke to this day I was inpatient. Inpatient in life and just so much in her womb.
bemused
My heart goes out to you. It’s a tough thing to go through. I wasn’t with my mom at the end because it happened too quickly but was with my father-in-law when he passed peacefully.
The hospital staff is so right about taking care of yourself. With an emotional blow like this, your immune system takes a beating, your resistance is lower. I caught terrible colds right after a couple of loved ones passed and I rarely get a cold. There’s a lot to deal with from the emotions and then the paperwork that comes with your loved one’s affairs. It can feel overwhelming even if one has a lot of family and friend support. I assume you have already been under a lot of stress with your mom’s illness. Seriously, grab onto whatever support is offered to you or seek it out. Don’t hesitate to ask the wonderful hospital staff for suggestions or resources to make this process easier on you.
seaboogie
@OzarkHillbilly: @Schlemazel:
Agreed on my bad conception math. As a lady-person, you’d think I’d know better….9 months, 12 month calendar year……thank FSM ovulation dates are no longer a part of my life…I guess when the fertile years sailed off into the sunset, so did my math skills. Nature is kind that way. When we start to get all wrinkly, our near vision fails….
OzarkHillbilly
@seaboogie: Just a brain fart. Happens to every one.
Tommy
Give those people back their land. I mean the Native Americans. My state is kind of pretty liberal about this all. Our flag ship university canned their mascot because it was seen as racist. But my town and my school are the Indians. Named after a tribe of Indians. I keep asking/telling people have they ever met one? They have not because we killed them all. Let me say that again, we killed them. It makes people cringe when I say this but it is honest.
seaboogie
@OzarkHillbilly: @OzarkHillbilly: I counted back instead of forward. Thank Dog I don’t have to count anymore….
bemused
If the Freedumb militia is free to come and go, it can hardly be called siege anymore.
Are there any actual locals who are at the Refuge? It does seem to be made up of outsiders, most from other states.
Iowa Old Lady
@lol chikinburd: I’m so sorry. With both my parents, death was a mercy and yet grief was inevitable. And it hits at the oddest times. I once burst into tears in the grocery store when the muzak played “In the Living Years.” So take it easy on yourself. Bless you for being there with her.
OzarkHillbilly
@seaboogie: The key is to remember that you have ten fingers and ten toes, but that the year has 12 months. ;-)
Josie
@lol chikinburd: I’m so sorry for your loss. My Mom passed away exactly a year ago in much the same way. Post again and let us know how you are doing.
Tommy
@bemused: As best I can tell from the media that is true. Outsiders. I live in a pretty rural area and folks stand up for this or that. The phrase I would use is outside agitators. We can protest on our own. We don’t need a third party coming in.
BillinGlendaleCA
@seaboogie: We’re counting you.
bemused
@Tommy:
According to a Nation piece I just read, not one resident of the county has joined the siege which wouldn’t surprise me if accurate.
The county has a high percentage of people living at poverty level. The schools are closed for a week due to this siege which costs school districts a lot of money. Many locals may have beefs with the BLM but they also work for BLM and other agencies. The article mentioned a woman who cleans at Refuge who now can’t work and others whose jobs have been affected by the “siege”.
Some locals seem sympathetic to the Hammons but the Bundys and the other outsider militia wannabes, not so much. I get the impression that locals, no matter how resentful they may feel about federal regulations there, think the outsiders aren’t doing them any favors.
seaboogie
@OzarkHillbilly: Funny…but until I had my tubes tied, and then menopausal and celibate, a whole lot of my life was spent fretting and calculating to the power of 28 – more or less.
I'mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet
@seaboogie: Since the changes, FYWP has decided that “naked” URLs are spamish. You need to put any URL you post inside an anchor tag.
[a href=”url.goes.here”]What you want the linky to say goes here[/a]
with the square brackets replaced by the corresponding less-than and greater-than signs, url.goes.here with the URL, and What you want the linky to say goes here with the text the reader clicks to stay out of the dungeon.
HTH.
Cheers,
Scott.
gene108
@lol chikinburd:
I started commenting on blogs as a way to force myself to communicate with others, because I tend to isolate myself otherwise.
It helps.
Condolences on the passing of your mother.
Germy
open thread?
I sort of found this article offensive.
Politix Update: Here’s Why It’s Time For Hillary To Finally Come Clean About Bill
Really?
OzarkHillbilly
@seaboogie: That’s why my wife stayed on the pill for so long.
seaboogie
@I’mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet: ?
I'mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet
@lol chikinburd: I’m sorry. It’s hard. Condolences to you.
I was with 90 year old my MIL while her twin daughters were out of the country. She died very peacefully.
We found that people will try to help with the arrangements, but it’s not easy. What happens now is for you and those who loved here. Don’t put excessive expectations on yourself. She’ll always be with you when you remember.
Be good to yourself and remember the good times.
Cheers,
Scott.
OzarkHillbilly
@Germy: Well of course she needs to come clean about Bill’s peccadilloes, and while she’s at it will she please explain that whole apple and serpent thing she did in the garden way back when?
Germy
@OzarkHillbilly: Also, didn’t they both go on 60 Minutes twenty years ago and address the issue? What more does he want?
I'mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet
@seaboogie: In other words, your post ended up in moderation because it had a link in it that wasn’t prettied up to the new Balloon-Juice standards. You need to either use the Link button (above the edit box in the Leave a Reply section at the bottom of the page) or you need to use the standard HTML characters I indicated.
Hope this helps. :-)
Cheers,
Scott.
seaboogie
@I’mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet: Scott – These are helpful tips, but I wasn’t linking anything. Hence my “?” response. Also, what you said to @lol chickin burd was perfect.
OzarkHillbilly
@Germy:
More of the same. Why? Donald Trump. Ted Cruz. Rand Paul. Marco Rubio. Chris Christie. Huckabee, Santorum, Jeb!, Kasich…. And we should not forget such great conservative luminaries like Sam Brownback or Bobby Jindal.
The Other Bob
As soon as those carnivores ate seitan, this thing was over. Their asses will be exploding any time now. I am waiting for the tweets asking for pepto and other tummy remedies.
seaboogie
@I’mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet: Sorry Scott, that already felt like yesterday that I was stuck in moderation, and I forgot. Thank you for your helpful tip, which I must admit is entirely Greek to me. Must we be able to write code in order to comment on FYWP?
ETA: Nevermind, I think that I get it if I use our fancy buttons.
Warm regards,
Beth
SiubhanDuinne
@lol chikinburd:
My very deepest condolences to you. Your mom may not have been able to communicate at the end, but I am certain she knew you were there and I am certain that brought her comfort. Hugs to you.
currants
@seaboogie: YES. Not even for the unintended consequence of an infant, but for having supplies at hand, or calculating whether I’d be in the middle of teaching a class and have to leave, or….
What a huge, stupid amount of energy that took.
MomSense
@lol chikinburd:
I’m really sorry. I hope you will let us know how you are doing. Sending a virtual hug to you.
LanceThruster
Isn’t it too late to ask them to merely ‘go home?’
A traffic stop with less resistance would turn deadly.
currants
@lol chikinburd: Sending sympathy your way. You picked the very best blog people to talk to. I don’t comment much (except on garden threads) but I read a lot, and people here are incredibly warm (under the snark and occasional political bickering).
Betty Cracker
@lol chikinburd: I’m so very sorry for your loss, and your instinct to reach out to other people is a good one. Even the snarling jackals of Balloon Juice can be a great comfort at such a time, as I know from personal experience. Take care of yourself and let us know how you’re doing.
Patricia Kayden
PETA, why?
@lol chikinburd: So sorry to hear of your loss. May your Mum RIP. ((Hugs))
Patricia Kayden
@Germy: Because Bill Clinton is the ONLY man to have ever cheated on his wife, right?
a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)
@lol chikinburd: My best wishes to you at this difficult time. It is good advice that it’s important to take care of yourself, and you’re insightful to recognize that connecting with people to express your feelings. It’s our privilege to listen.
Denali
@lol chikinburd,
So sorry for your loss. Hope the coming days are not too difficult. You will always have your memories of your mom to treasure.
delk
@lol chikinburd: I am sorry to hear about your loss. I tend to isolate and have a difficult time reaching out as well. Your funeral director can be a good source for the names of grief counselors and support groups. Even just knowing about some options can be helpful.
Svensker
@lol chikinburd:
So sorry to hear that. It was lovely that you got to be with her at the end — that will mean a lot in the coming years (at least it did for me). Losing a parent may be “natural” but it sure as hell isn;t easy. Big hugs and take care of yourself.
WaterGirl
@lol chikinburd: I am so very sorry for your loss. I was with my dad, holding his hand, when we lost him 21 years ago tomorrow. I am glad your mom went peacefully, that’s something to hold on to. After reading your story, it feels like yesterday that I lost my dad. Even with 2 sisters and a partner, I felt so lost. I can only imagine how it feels to go through this alone.
My sisters and I stumbled through all the arrangements, the funeral home, the death certificates, the banks… It was like a maze and I couldn’t believe that no one was able to hand us a list of 20 things that we had to be sure to do. I swore that I would put that together once I recovered from the ordeal, but never did. I wish I had! A terrible time in your life and you have to figure out how to navigate a system you know nothing about,.
The only way to get through it is to keep putting one foot in front of the other and reach out for help when you need it. Big hugs.
Schlemazel
late to the party but have to put this some place:
Is anyone surprised that the members of Bozo Haram are lying about their military experience?
kc
Apparently they do get to do that.
PurpleGirl
@Schlemazel: Not surprised at all. And that one in particular needs a lot of aid to feel manly cause he’s bigger than a pregnant woman. If he really wanted us to believe he’s a retired Marine, shouldn’t he have kept himself in shape — you know lean to go with the mean. Idiot moran.
Soylent Green
The people of eastern Oregon love to blame the 1994 Northwest Forest Plan (created to save the northern spotted owl from extinction on national forests) for their economic plight. But the closure of their lumber mills stems mainly from other causes — competition from Canadian timber suppliers, modernization of logging and milling, which required fewer workers, movement of a lot of the industry from the Northwest to the South, and other economic changes. The government is always the bogeyman in their version of events, and always has been.
The Malheur Wildlife Refuge was created by Teddy Roosevelt to save the many thousands of migratory waterfowl that were being obliterated by market hunters to get plumes for ladies’ hats.
What the Bundy gang wants is to remove all such environmental protections from the land. In this respect they have many fellow travelers there in Burns.
lol chikinburd
Thank you all for your kind thoughts. You guys are the best snarling jackals ever.
I’ve so far got through breaking the news to her siblings and pastor; all the trickier legal and business stuff — including getting a lawyer to protect her estate — lies ahead, but I’ll put off as much of that as I can until after I’ve had some actual sleep. Mostly meta-meta-planning today, and talking to family.
As for folks here, I’m of a mind to take up their offers to chat, but in due time. Still a fair amount of numbness to go with the odd relief right now — I still haven’t cried — but I’m certain the emptiness and the sorrow will get here on its own schedule. In general, I’ve resolved to refuse no good-faith assistance, because, if I’m Mom’s legacy, then I owe it to Mom.
Thank you all again.
Paul in KY
@lol chikinburd: Very sorry to hear of your mother’s passing. Glad she went out without pain & on her terms. She was lucky to have a child like you.
J R in WV
@lol chikinburd:
Sad to hear your late-night news, you have my sympathies, totally. Not depressing for us, but I can see how it might affect you that way at first. It sounds like your Mom was in control of her fate even to the end, which was a good thing.
My wife spent some weeks on a ventilator, which I allowed because I learned from the doctors that it was the only possible path to recovery for her, she was a healthy middle-aged woman but for her septic shock from pneumonia. And indeed, after a couple of months of intensive professional care, surgery, etc, she recovered to leave the hospital, go to a South sea island, Europe for the first time, etc. So that worked out for us very well.
As I spent 18 hours a day with M in the hospital, I saw other families dealing with a loved one’s illness just as you have, more hugs perhaps as there usually was a crowd. You learn a whole lot spending many hours for weeks in a big teaching hospital.
Sounds like your family did what your Mom wanted, which is a good thing. Don’t second guess her now, be glad that things went like she wanted them to.
Good luck with the rest of it now, I hope you have help from the rest of your family. Don’t hesitate to use B-J for your sounding board again, many of us have done that at one time or another.
Paul in KY
@Schlemazel: Hope you have a great bday!
Origuy
@lol chikinburd: My condolences. I lost my mom years ago. After the initial grief has subsided, you’ll find that you get sad unexpectedly at the oddest times. I realized a while back that when I dream about being in the house I grew up in, where my dad still lives, that mom is always there.
I’m lucky that my dad and sister took care of the practical issues, as I was half a continent away. The only thing I know is that you’ll need multiple copies of the death certificate, to send to insurance companies, creditors, etc.
sigaba
@Patricia Kayden: PETA is there because cameras are there.
Karmus
@lol chikinburd: Hi. My mom passed away in 2012, the day before Mother’s Day. She also went on her own terms. She was at home, had driven to the dollar store that very day; I found the receipt. I found her sitting on her couch next to the phone. I had lunch with her that day, and spoke with her on the phone twice. When she didn’t answer that third time, I drove over. (My sister made it possible for us to be close to her in the months before Mom died. Although it took us both by surprise, she was clearly prescient.) Mom would often doze on that couch; I am pretty sure she passed in her sleep.
Although she was there by herself, she was pretty much a loner, and liked it that way (I am a lot like that myself). In short order I found a tiny scrap of paper on which she had written a note to my father, who passed in 2008. She wrote the note, which she dated, a year to the day before, on May 12th (Mother’s Day in 2012, the year she died, was the 13th. She hated 13, and would have been pissed to pass on that day). She wrote, to paraphrase (I still have the note but I remember well enough), another mother’s day without him, and she was still missing him so much. She really didn’t want to go through another one without him, and she didn’t. She also told us kids emphatically, repeatedly, how she didn’t want to be kept alive on life support, poked and prodded, all of that. She avoided that, too. She went shopping that day. She was doing her thing and then just stopped. I wasn’t ready to lose her, but I’m so glad she went her way, with grace.
I am sure you have been a great comfort to your mother. Do keep reaching out. Give it time and be gentle with yourself, as I know you know you must.
Take care.
Marilynd..so
@lol chikinburd: I hugged my son vicariously yesterday….he was sitting on a curb outside a locally owned pharmacy…..consider your self hugged as well….love to you from me….your 70-year-old German/Norwegian Gramma….
Heliopause
@kc:
It’s rare that I have sympathy for law enforcement but Sheriff Ward has limited capability of dealing with this. They’re having to borrow deputies from other counties just to do routine functions and they simply can’t deal with the hunkered-down militiamen.
The White House has stated that this is a “local law enforcement matter” and that the FBI is “monitoring.” Others have said that the FBI is “taking the lead” but without any specifics. My working assumption has been that they are not revealing everything that’s going on in the background, but if you accept the White House statement at face value it’s pretty startling. What do they expect the sheriff of Harney County (pop. 7146) to do about this? Does the state of Oregon have resources to do something? The governor says some unspecified number of state police have been sent to the area. Nobody wants to say or do anything publicly at this point. Guess we’ll have to wait and see.