The sun was hot on Jimmy’s body at first, as if to question whether or not he had the true desire to complete his vision quest. From time to time, however, a cool breeze offered respite and he found himself feeling not only cooled but grateful. As he sat and simply observed, he saw small creatures, mostly squirrels, raccoons and even an occasional otter that had climbed up from the valley below looked at him. Not sensing a threat, the otter went about his business. Even the insects and birds seemed curious as to what he was doing. Once, a long shadow passed over him and he glanced up to see an immature bald eagle with only tufts of white that would be a part of his adult plumage making itself known. It was enough of a sign that caused Jimmy to crack a small smile. His grandfather’s words and that of the old medicine man were enough to convince him that he had indeed made the right choice to see this through.
By late afternoon of observation, reflection and the occasional prayer, Jimmy found himself nodding off. Closing his eyes, he let the sounds of the birds, the wind whistling through the spruces and his own breathing to lull him to sleep.
It had only been a few moments when the sound of a familiar voice caused him to open his eyes again. Struggling to focus, he found a beautiful young woman dressed in soft white doeskin sitting opposite to him. As soon as his eyes were opened, she gifted him with a smile. She seemed familiar, but her face seemed to change even as he looked at her.
“I’m glad you came, thiblo*,” the young woman said.
It was that one word that caused Jimmy to remember just who the woman was.”
“Kamimila?” he managed, though his voice sounded distant even to his own ears, though she seemed real enough. “Mara?”
“Well, DUH!” the woman snorted. “You didn’t think I would let you go through all this without showing up did you?”
She may have died when she was only four, but somehow, his baby sister’s personality was still there.”
“They actually let you say ‘duh’, on the other side?” Jimmy smirked. “What happened to all those traditional ways the elders always talk about? By the way I miss you every day.”
“It’s more integrated than you think, silly,” the Spirit Who Was Mara, said, then nodded at his last comment.” I miss you, too.”
“I’m sorry if I wasn’t the best brother.”
“Since when?” Mara laughed.”You put up with me following you around. I mean, sure we fought like siblings do, but you were - and are always my hero, Jimmy.”
Mama and Papa and the others send their love and prayers for your vision quest. Papa says, no matter what happens, you will always be his son in his eyes”
Jimmy couldn’t help but feel more than a little confused and taken aback at his sister’s comment. “I have no idea what you mean by that, Kamimila. Papa always said I was his son as far as he was concerned. And in spite of my being here or the love from family on Mama’s side, I always felt closer to my Lakota kin.” He then gave her a smile. ”I think that is due in large part because of you.”
The spirit that was the adult version of his baby sister nodded. “I am told the man who knew our mother has been aware of you. No matter what happens, know that you have thousands of ancestors standing behind you - including Two Horses himself.”
Jimmy closed his eyes and nodded, grateful to hear the name. But as soon as he opened them again to speak to her once again, the spirit of his sister had disappeared. All that was left was the field around him and the sound of the animals that awakened as the mountain became shrouded in the falling darkness. Glancing skyward, Jimmy heard his stomach growl with hunger. Ignoring it, he turned his thoughts back to watching and observing and hoping that he would come to understand his little sister’s words.
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timeasmymeasure
The Vision (Part 1)
Date: 2021-07-29 06:18 pm (UTC)By late afternoon of observation, reflection and the occasional prayer, Jimmy found himself nodding off. Closing his eyes, he let the sounds of the birds, the wind whistling through the spruces and his own breathing to lull him to sleep.
It had only been a few moments when the sound of a familiar voice caused him to open his eyes again. Struggling to focus, he found a beautiful young woman dressed in soft white doeskin sitting opposite to him. As soon as his eyes were opened, she gifted him with a smile. She seemed familiar, but her face seemed to change even as he looked at her.
“I’m glad you came, thiblo*,” the young woman said.
It was that one word that caused Jimmy to remember just who the woman was.”
“Kamimila?” he managed, though his voice sounded distant even to his own ears, though she seemed real enough. “Mara?”
“Well, DUH!” the woman snorted. “You didn’t think I would let you go through all this without showing up did you?”
She may have died when she was only four, but somehow, his baby sister’s personality was still there.”
“They actually let you say ‘duh’, on the other side?” Jimmy smirked. “What happened to all those traditional ways the elders always talk about? By the way I miss you every day.”
“It’s more integrated than you think, silly,” the Spirit Who Was Mara, said, then nodded at his last comment.” I miss you, too.”
“I’m sorry if I wasn’t the best brother.”
“Since when?” Mara laughed.”You put up with me following you around. I mean, sure we fought like siblings do, but you were - and are always my hero, Jimmy.”
Mama and Papa and the others send their love and prayers for your vision quest. Papa says, no matter what happens, you will always be his son in his eyes”
Jimmy couldn’t help but feel more than a little confused and taken aback at his sister’s comment. “I have no idea what you mean by that, Kamimila. Papa always said I was his son as far as he was concerned. And in spite of my being here or the love from family on Mama’s side, I always felt closer to my Lakota kin.” He then gave her a smile. ”I think that is due in large part because of you.”
The spirit that was the adult version of his baby sister nodded. “I am told the man who knew our mother has been aware of you. No matter what happens, know that you have thousands of ancestors standing behind you - including Two Horses himself.”
Jimmy closed his eyes and nodded, grateful to hear the name. But as soon as he opened them again to speak to her once again, the spirit of his sister had disappeared. All that was left was the field around him and the sound of the animals that awakened as the mountain became shrouded in the falling darkness. Glancing skyward, Jimmy heard his stomach growl with hunger. Ignoring it, he turned his thoughts back to watching and observing and hoping that he would come to understand his little sister’s words.