While Riding Into Town With My Hubby

It was the First Friday Art Walk in the neighboring town. I love it! This month it was the perfect place to find the right gifts for the right people on my Christmas list. Hubby was going in with me as he needed a new heating pad for his tennis elbow.

Right away I get irritated. He won't listen to me. He has struggled with his elbow for over a year. He lifts heavy weights and I'm sure he doesn't want anyone telling him it's the weights. I went to the chiropractor and he fixed the tennis elbow that I had for a couple of weeks in only one treatment.

He told me it is a method that was discovered thousands of years ago. Most of the time I can let hubby suffer. I think to myself, if you want to suffer it's up to you. I didn't say anything but all of that is what was going on in my head. He knows when I am upset and he tries to fix me with humor.

So when there was snow and ice on my windshield I asked him to use the wipers, and he said, "No, it isn't a good idea as first it streaks, then it starts to make a squeaking noise." Earlier in the week he had told me that he got the wrong wiper again for his car and that it streaks and squeaks.

Right away I said, "What? My car is new and there is nothing wrong with my wipers and we are not in your car!" Then I realized as he grinned at me that he was teasing me. He wanted me to think he switched my wipers for his. And we laughed and laughed.

Then, as I was checking my Facebook, I noticed a message from my cousin. He said, "Dear Denise: Your thoughtfulness is so appreciated. I was just notified that I will be receiving a 2024 All My Relations Mitakuye Oyasin Award. I am thrilled and honored and just so honored that you nominated me. Love you and thank you for your gracious support."

When I started to cry as I was reading this out loud to him, he must have thought I should be cheered up. He said, "Is that the cousin that your brother Steve referred to as a 'big fat ox' when they were kids?"

I couldn't help but move from tears to laughter as I remembered our mothers laughing about that for years as Steve and my cousin looked like they could be twins!

The tears came from being pleased that he would be getting that attention. The award was $1,000. and he deserved this as he has worked hard in the last couple of years. I sent copies of a favorite he gave me and an original that my daughter bought for me.

It was an award to recognize someone who exemplifies the All My Relations saying that is a part of both our Ojibwe and Dakota peoples philosophy. I included his latest community project where he highlighted art from people in our small reservation community called Naytahwaush.

He always mentions his grandmother who was an example for him to continue with his art. She made black ash baskets. Some are displayed in National museums. His father and brothers carried that on. He said he has always painted, even as a young child, and even when it was with mud on the side of the garage/barn.

My trips in the car with the hubby is where we probably communicate the best as his oldest daughter told me that is where she had her dad's undivided attention. So true. He can't escape. And his vulnerable side shows. He likes to laugh, he doesn't like to cry and I can get him to do both.