by Adopted Native American Citizenship Affected by The REAL ID Act of 2005 on Friday, February 24, 2012 at 10:52pm ·
Hi Blogger peeps,
I must apologize for being so quiet lately.
Me, attempting to live life,
get more noticed at work
...and also improving my craft as an Actor.
So, the past few months...
Lets start with a reunion, this note.
I met my Uncle and Aunt who live not too far from me
here in California.
That was a HUGE boost of just humanity, sense of family
and more belonging and understanding
on more levels than I can think of.
In December 2011, I found out an Uncle had moved from Arizona to California
We decided to get together for a Christmas Reunion.
It was July of 1971 when I was adopted & removed from the Reservation and the Navajo Nation, Dinétah.
and December 2011 for a reunion??
That was much more than I expected.
We set up to meet December 23rd.
What made it quite interesting is I had concocted this idea of meeting a Vietnam Vet who was kinda crazy...
...who might happen to have an episode while in his presence and...
of course my imagination went wild.
I saw myself backpacking/hitchhiking..
...if I could...
all the way back to civilization
as he lives a few miles away from a large metro-area.
In the end what I had dreamed up in my little "noggin" kinda went along the lines of :
So I was to meet my Uncle and Aunt in Pasadena at an agreed time.(exit stage left)
I think it was 11:00 a.m.
I thought, well, what if they didn't show, then what?
Then I thought,
what if they do & we start heading away from where I live & just decide,
even though they sound great on the phone,
we just "don't get along"?
Then I thought....
what if my Uncle has a Vietnam Flashback & I have to high-tail it back to the city?
I envisioned myself backpacking, climbing over the mountains
(think the Trapp Family going over The Alps). Running as fast as I can away from this crazy Vet who I didn't know what to expect next & finally getting to
santuary...
like the nearest church, hailing a cab...
Ya know???
Lots of wierd stuff became quite creative while going through this pea-sized thought that was taking root.
Well,
Now on the Metro Goldline train and it got to the Sierra Madre Villa Station
"Last stop!"
finally...
....called to tell my Uncle and Aunt I was on approach
and from their end,
they were on the same time-frame I was.
VERY REASSURED
(breathe)
(breathe)
So, as I'm walking across the walkway above the freeway approaching the METRO parking structure,
I stop
because,
I feel them approaching....
it's strong,
Stronger, that spirit reaching to connect and then...
weaker,
I see a vehicle turn right & think,
that's them.
Even though I don't know the make or model of their vehicle...
...but I know.
I'm going down the elevator & exit and get a phone call on the cell:
Me: Hello?(Or something like that)
Them: Hey, where are you?
Me: I just exited the elevator. I see you turning right on Sierra Madre Blvd toward the Kaiser Permanente Building.
Them: How did you know?
Me: I just felt you.
Them: Oh....
Me: Just turn on Foothill, and go around, I'll meet you back here by the Parking Structure.
Them: Ok
Me: Bye
Them: Bye
We meet,
my Aunt gets out we hug,
greet,
all those wierd funny thoughts in my head...now fodder for a comedy sketch
(somewhere in the future.)
We ended up having a great Christmas Reunion.
My Auntie sang in the Christmas Programme at her church,
the service was awesome.
I sat right next to my Uncle & it was relaxing.
My Uncle and I watched two Navajo films as my Auntie napped.
I brought out my documents,
we talked about what was happening back in September 1968 when my mother died unexpectedly,
his getting a military leave, the funeral, how that was messed up.
We caught up.
Iit was a great conversation. 40 years in the making...
For some reason I'm daydreaming of an old Bedouin roaming 40 years in a desert somewhere across the water back in the "olden" days.
And then from Ferris Beuller's Day off:
"When Cameron was in Egypt's land... let my Cameron go!"
We had a great time,
My uncle enjoys outdoor cooking and is an amazing chef. So glad cooking "runs in the family". :D
My Aunt and I did prep work & talked quite a bit
The three of us created quite a delicious Christmas Dinner.
Overall, THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER...did I say ever?
We spent the following Monday in LA County around Sunset ...
...Avenue in Azusa...
not Hollywood.
Turns out ( and I kinda knew this) that the Kirk Family migrated to Azusa.
My Grandfather John, Ruth and family...
My uncles and aunts as teens & pre-teens, lived here until 1958 before moving back to Arizona.
It was a great neighborhood & to see my Uncle running around like a wild indian???
Er,
...a little kid in a candy store was pretty entertaining.
What a great Christmas 2011 we had.
We've been talking on and off, trying to figure out where our boundaries are,
finding out more about each other with each lengthy conversation.
What an amazing blessing to be reunited after 40 years.
And this next month
we'll be seeing each other again for a quick weekender. :)
Yes, my life has become much more relaxed, more busy....
One more feature film,
This time as a Coventry Academy Fan & then a Crooked Arrow Fan (go Crooked Arrows!)
in Crooked Arrows (the first Native American Sports Film)...
working...internet marketing at a jewelry company round the corner,
creating new family bonds, or re-creating, however you wish to interpret.
My Uncle created a pencil drawing of my mother Linda Carolyn Kirk:
Thank You Uncle Ernie.
Walk in Beauty.
