Memories of Another June

Reflections (Literally) – Tuesday, June 28, 2016

I should be editing today, but I promised my granddaughter I would share this story. We didn’t have a chance to work on it together so I’m writing it for her.

More fierce storms rolled through on Saturday evening when my granddaughter was spending the night. She grew frightened as the sky darkened and warnings about severe storms headed our way sounded on the radio.

She was on the verge of tears. “Ahma, where can we hide?”

“I have another idea, Sweetie,” I replied. “Let’s go outside and offer tobacco with a prayer. I’ll teach you how. The lightening and rain haven’t come yet so there’s still time.”

I showed her the garden I had chosen, but she found her own special garden by the ninebark bush. When she finished, she smiled and we went inside and read a story.

When the thunder and lightning ended, and the rain abated for a moment, we took our little dog out. I laughed when I saw the huge puddle in the alley behind the house. It was covered with little popping bubbles.

“Ahma,” my granddaughter joyfully shouted when she saw the puddle. “The puddle is tooting! That’s what happens when people are swimming and toot (fart). It makes bubbles in the water.”

Just then, the rain began again, and bubbles appeared on all of the puddles the whole length of the alley. My granddaughter laughed and danced with delight despite the rain.

The next day, she sang a song about “The Tooting Puddle Bubbles.” (Try saying that fast!) We went outside the next morning to look for the bubbles, but they were gone. The biggest puddle was still there, though, and we took some pictures.

I’ve gone a little overboard posting them…

June 2016 tooting puddles 1

The illusion of bushes, buildings and fences growing out of the asphalt intrigues me.

June 2016 tooting puddles 2

June 2016 tooting puddles 3

June 2016 tooting puddles 4

May we all find simple moments for gratitude and laughter during and after storms along our path.

***

June 1, 2022

This weekend, I spent time with my daughter and granddaughter. We laughed about some of our memories. My granddaughter, now 15, said she would like to read stories from the “old days,” so I’m posting one of our simple, joyful adventures.

Six years have passed since this was posted. The storms have been arriving frequently this year but it hasn’t been warm enough most days for “tooting puddles.” Little Pinto is no longer with us, but we’re fortunate to have photos and memories of the love and good times we shared.

39 thoughts on “Memories of Another June”

  1. Beautiful photos and memories – and after every rain (which we don’t get enough of) I will keep an eye out for tooting puddles! Thank you for posting this memory.

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    1. Ah, thank you for your lovely comments, Diane. I hope you have many opportunities to look for tooting puddles after life-giving gentle rain. 💜

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  3. Carol, what a fun story and memory. It’s wonderful to have this and others to enjoy reflecting together…with your granddaughter. So nice to have the pictures of Pinto, as well. So glad you shared this today. 💜

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  4. I absolutely love how you taught your granddaughter to go outside and offer tobacco with a prayer.

    These beautiful traditions and rituals on our land that our ancestors did before us is so important to share and teach to future generations. A beautiful story Carol 🤗🙏🏻

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  5. Times and stories later shared, sometimes with laughter, sometimes with tears, but always with the deep satisfaction connection brings …Thank you for sharing these moments of connection with us, Carol. I’m still smiling thinking of tooting puddle bubbles.

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    1. Such lovely, thoughtful comments, Joan. Thank you. 💜 The thought of “tooting puddle bubbles” makes me smile, too, and the memory even made a lovely teenager laugh.

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    1. It’s such a gift to hear from you, Kathy! Thank you so much for your kind and lovely comments. I hope you are doing well and send gratitude and best wishes to you. 💜

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    1. Thank you for your thoughtful comments, Priti, Many people are unaware of the spiritual significance offering tobacco has for our ancestors, the Ojibwe, one of the many Indigenous Nations in what is now known as North America (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ojibwe ). Below is a brief overview that describes how it was and still is used.

      (You will notice in the following quote that all Indigenous people in the Americas were referred to by colonial discoverers as “Indians,” and later in the U.S., as “American Indians” by the colonial powers that imposed their dominance over Indigenous peoples.)

      “In Woodland Indian rituals, ceremonies, and religious observances, tobacco is the unifying thread of communication between humans and the spiritual powers.

      “The manidog (spirits) are said to be extremely fond of tobacco and that the only way they could get it was from the Indians, either by smoke from a pipe or by offerings of dry tobacco. According to tradition, the Indians received tobacco as a gift from Wenebojo who had taken it from a mountain giant and then given the seed to his brothers.

      “In almost all facets of their lives, Native people of the Great Lakes had reason to solicit the spirits for acts of kindness or to give thanks for past favors. Dry tobacco was placed at the base of a tree or shrub from which medicine was gathered, and a pinch was thrown in the water before each day of wild rice gathering to assure calm weather and a bountiful harvest. Before setting out in a canoe, a safe return was assured by offering tobacco on the water… When storms approached, families protected themselves by placing a small amount of tobacco on a nearby rock or stump.” (Milwaukee Public Museum, 2022, para. 1-3). Retrieved from https://www.mpm.edu/educators/wirp/great-lakes-traditional-culture/tobacco.

      I have tried to pass on the significance of this practice to my grandchildren only when it seemed appropriate. Ultimately, it’s their right and responsibility to find their purpose and path in life. I can merely try to demonstrate the path I have been given which has required learning to walk in two different cultures.

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    1. It’s delightful to hear from you, Bob. Thank you so much for your kindness.

      This repost is the beginning of a project for Ava that I completed for Aadi years ago. I meant to put a booklet together for her birthday this year that included old stories posted on my blog, but March was much too busy with student issues. It’s on my to-do list for the summer along with working on editing my book manuscript. We’ll see how that goes…

      Sending my best wishes as you head into the busy tourist season! 💜

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  14. Heart-warming, lovely memories. I think we’re mostly made up of memories. Thank you for sharing some of yours. 🙂

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