NaNoWriMo Days 14-20 - 34,308 words

[Buffy]

NaNoWriMo Days 14 - 20 - 34,308 words

I am still here and writing my "Two Step" novel. I just went out of town for four days and came back and threw myself in my work and my novel so I haven't had the luxury of time to keep you all up dated as much as I like. So I will summarize the last few days here in a single email.

Day 14 - Friday

I went into work today tying up loose ends before going to Chicago pow wow tomorrow. I came home and packed my bags for the weekend. I wrote up to approximately 30,000 words before I left out of town.

Day 15 - Saturday

Big day out of town to University of Illinois-Chicago for the American Indian Center 55 th annual pow wow. The American Indian Center is the oldest urban center serving Native Americans in the U.S. It was founded in 1953. Approximately 10,000 people in Chicago identified themselves as American Indians in the 2000 Census, with about 10,000 more claiming a mixed Native American ancestry. http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=70453

The day started at 7 am when my friend came and picked me up to take me with her to Alverno College where she had a Weekend college class. It was nice for me to visit the campus again because I had graduated from Alverno college back in 1995 with a BA. in business and management.

The class got out at noon and we had lunch in the Alverno cafeteria. We were on the road to Chicago by 1pm and after on the road we managed to arrive at about 3 pm. We bought our tickets and quickly picked out seats. I was so overjoyed to see them do a "Two Step." The head dancers looked great together and the female head dancer was so beautiful in purple and black with sparkling beads. I watched the elaborate pattern unfold before my eyes. My heart raced.

We watched the other dance and then came on the woman who did the Disney's voice of Pocahontas from the animated movie. She sang songs to guitar accompaniment. Then they had a Native American rapper rapping about how much he loved his fried bread. LOL. Which made me hungry and I had an Indian fry bread taco. I picked up some beautiful native cards to send for Sassafrass' birthday which was on November 19 and another native card for my Navajo pen pal from New Mexico. We left around at 6:30 pm to make the drive back. We got a little lost trying to go back home, but we soon corrected our direction on were on our way. Beautiful day. Long, but beautiful. Too tired to write anything.


Day 16 - Sunday

Grassroots Empowerment Conference, Wisconsin Dells

I woke up early to get my place all nice and clean before I left. I finished packing and included a pen and paper to try to write on my trip. I was picked up at 1:45 pm and we headed to Chula Vista resort in Wisconsin Dells. While on the way up there my supervisor and her husband both were encouraging me to run for the Grassroots Empowerment Board of Directors. I hadn't thought much about it. They both declared that they would vote for me. I felt honored they would say that, but I seriously hadn't considered this position before. I let it slip my mind.

I loved the Native American and nature decor of the resort. This is my second time there for the Grassroots Empowerment Conference. My ride and I went to the Ho Chunk casino for dinner at the Stand Rock buffet. Great food. Then we went to play the slots. I was sitting at this machine called "Romance Fortune" and I was able to win $30. Which I was happy with. I kept getting Double and Triple Cupid bonuses and these hearts, rings, and wedding bells kept rolling up. I was so excited and the guy was just sitting next to me and watching. I had a good time.

I came back to my room at the resort and met my roommate whose husband was Oneida and so was her daughter and we talked and talked about Native American culture til 10 pm. We went to bed and I slept very well.

Day 17 - Monday

We woke up at 6 am the next day. We got ready. I pulled out my notebook and wrote the title and that was as far as I got in my novel. I was too hungry and I wanted to go straight to the Breakfast Buffet. I loaded up my plate, but took to much food. I just ate some of my eggs, a spoonful of bread pudding, a sliver of pizza, a cup of yogurt, and orange juice.

We had a guest speaker and went into a workshop. Then had lunch. At my table was a Board of Director and I began asking them questions about what they do. He in turn asked about me and my background. He suggested if I run to begin writing notes in between workshops. So I thought maybe I should run. I began writing some notes in the margins of my handouts.

Finally it was time to submit my application to the executive director. They called a couple of people up to the stage and they gave their presentations. I finally was called and I was out of breath when I finally got up there feeling like my throat was constricting. I was shaking like a leaf. I held onto the podium for dear life. A Board of Director member came up and put her hand on me for support. I shared how my healing recovery journey began 19 years ago. I described the things that helped me to heal. I discussed my education, my work, and my memberships. I finally concluded with my assets of creativity, honesty, integrity, heart, and spirituality that I would bring to the position on the Board of Directors. I thanked the audience. And the audience voted.

The rest of the day people kept coming up to me, wanting to shake my hand, hug me, giving me their number, wanting my business card, and whispering in my ear that they voted for me. Some said I was a gentle spirit. Others said I would bring change. People received me so warmly I was shocked. I finished attending the last workshop. And then met more people at dinner.

After dinner there was a DJ and karaoke machine. People got on the dance floor. So many people got out to sing Karaoke compared to last year. A Native American girl put two turtles made of wood and bobbing heads facing each other in my hands. She later came back and wrapped me in a blue shawl with fringe and a four directions medicine wheel on the back. A couple of my co workers got up and did Karaoke songs. They tried to convince me to go up there. Finally, I agreed. I got up and sang "God is a Dj"DJy Pink. I had such a blast putting myself out there. I danced to the music. When I was done I took a bow and people from the audience were calling out my name. Which really surprised me. lol

I went back to my room at 10 pm and I shared everything that happened with my roommate and we talked til midnight. I was on cloud nine and totally excited by the entire day. Again I did not write in my novel at all the entire day.

Day 18 - Tuesday

Next morning I woke up at 6 am needed a lot more sleep. I have been pushing myself hard for the last few days. I could not believe the pace I was moving in life lately. I got everything packed up, checked out of the hotel, and went for the Breakfast Buffet. This time I took smaller amounts of food and was quite content when I was done. The Native American girl from the night before came up to me and gave me loose tobacco. I proceeded to go out into the cold and I prayed a prayer of gratitude for such a healing few days and thanked the Creator for bringing me here. I placed the tobacco on Mother Earth near a plant. I thanked the Native American girl for gifting me with the tobacco in the first place and she gave me a picture of a waterfall she took and a picture of herself. Later, I loaded my bag in the car and proceeded to the main room for announcements.

After the executive director did her announcements a member of the Board of Directors came out to announce the new member of the Board of Directors. I was shocked my name was called. I didn't think I would reach people so effectively, but they wanted me to be the new member of the Board of Directors! I was stunned, my mouth dropped open. They wanted me to stand up and I waved at everybody. It was wonderful feeling.

After the announcements people were coming up to me to congratulate me and to tell me they too voted for me. I was overwhelmed. I still am overwhelmed to be quite honestly. I listened to the keynote speaker, and attended two workshops. I went to Trauma Informed Care for peer specialists which I believe will really help my job. I then attended a meeting for the Board of Directors so I could meeting everybody I would be working with. It was so wonderful to meet everybody.

Later I ran into a Mohican man who I realized I once knew 12 years ago back in Milwaukee. he was brought to tears and excused himself and then came back after awhile. Back then I knew he was Native American but I didn't realize that he was Mohican. What a small world. He told me he was impressed about what I had said during the presentation for the Board of Directors. He said I spoke from the heart. He said the others were sincere, but I was the most sincere. I was moved deeply by what he said. I gave him my contact information. Then we parted as I returned home to Waukesha. Too much excitement, too much to do, no time to write in my novel despite bringing a notebook. Good thing I wrote far ahead before I left so I wouldn't be behind when I got back.

Day 19 - Wednesday

I did peer specialist work in the morning and then went to a staff meeting in the afternoon. I came home right away. I wrote 1,300 words in the evening reaching over 31,000 words total.

Day 20 - Thursday

Today, I had a medical appointment. Then I went to do a Common Ground presentation which is about building quality relationships between consumers and health care prodviders by supporing consumer choice. Then afterwards I had another medical appointment to keep me happy and healthy. I went straight home took a much needed nap. I proceeded to type out about 3,000 words in the novel reaching the 34,308 word mark.


November is:
Native American Heritage Month
This Year's Theme:"Celebrating Tribal Nations: America's Great Partners."

National Novel Writing Month - NaNoWriMo.org

[Penne]

GO FOR IT, BUFFY!! I'm so happy & grateful you decided to share this incredible journey with us. Can't wait to read the finished transcript and say "I knew her when." ;-) Happy Thanksgiving Cheers ~ Penne & the CanDo! Crew