This was a weird day: not quite a work day, not quite a holiday. Half of each, since the office closed at noon. Five people were out anyway, which in a small company amounts to almost half the office. I’d be lying if I said it was the most productive day in the world, but I did zip over to a Lutheran church a couple of miles down the street to take photos. I’d interviewed a local artist a couple of weeks ago for an upcoming feature in Black Hills Visitor, but midway through our chat a truck pulled up right in front of the mural we were talking about and I was unable to get a picture. This morning, there were no vehicles blocking the building, so I was able to get some good photos.
The mural was designed as a memorial to the MMIW (Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women) movement that deeply affects so many Native American families, and helps to bring a small bit of closure. Derek, the artist, talked about all the symbolism in the painting, from the red handprint to the “crosses” that represent stars in the Lakota culture and appear on much of their beadwork. It was fascinating to learn all this, and I walked away impressed with Derek’s passion and heart. He is Lakota himself, and so obviously this mural touched him deeply. I have a deep respect for the Lakota culture, and will do all I can to help spread their message.
Here’s another one he painted on an apartment building next to the church. It represents the racing magpie, a key figure in the Native American Great Race legend. Fun fact that Derek shared: the Black Hills appear in all his work. You can see them painted in blue and purple on both buildings.
Talking to such interesting individuals and learning about the history and culture of the region is hands-down my favorite part of my job. I’ll link to the story when it goes live online.
After leaving the office, I made a liquor store run (priorities!) and then picked up sushi for lunch. One of our most pleasant surprises upon moving here was discovering that, contrary to what you might think, you can find good sushi in the Midwest. I came home, lowered the A/C because it was hot again, puttered around for a bit before deciding to head out to the patio, heat be damned.
And then I almost came back inside, because holy shit, it was hot. 98º. But I powered through, catching up on blogs and drinking gin. At one point it started raining, quite unexpectedly, and Sydney—our calico cat—freaked out. She demanded to be let inside (a first for her!), but 10 minutes later it was hot and humid again and I let her back out.
Not much else of note happened. The evening was a bit of a blur. I guess fireworks occurred at Mount Rushmore, but I wanted no part of that.
Tara begins her long drive home tomorrow. Can’t wait to see her.
Mark My Words 
From now on when I read your comments on my blog I shall assume they were written with a glass of gin on the table next to you. Even at 8:00 a.m. 🙂
We haven’t gotten to 98 degrees, but we’ve had a string on low 90s that aren’t letting up and, like you, that means the A/C is on all the time. I hate that. While I appreciate the A/C, of course, I love having all the windows open. So many months of the year we Midwesterners have to shut out nature to keep the temperature reasonable, so I really hate doing that in the summertime! Where we’re headed in UT (and some parts of CO) are going to make 90 degrees seem cool, and guess what: Bobbie doesn’t have A/C! Sleeping is going to be brutal.
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If I’ve left a comment on your blog at 8 a.m., it was likely written with a Bloody Mary on the table next to me!
I know exactly what you mean about shutting the windows in the summertime. It’s so weird to think two months ago we were still getting snow, and two months from now it’s possible to start seeing snow, but right now we’re broiling under such extreme heat. The Midwest really does have it all.
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The murals are stunning. Though you can have that high heat, I melt in anything over 75.
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Spoken like a true Mainer.
(Is that what they call you guys?)
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It is. And I’m a Mainer via New Jersey and North Carolina….
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What part of Jersey? My family is originally from Trenton.
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If the painting requires more than two colors (as in house and trim), it ain’t happening. Second, around here, my buddies and I have an alternate name for Sushi. That would be “bait”, because that is what we do with raw seafood.
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Well, put it on a hook and toss it my way. I’ll bite!
My painting skills are about as complex as yours.
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Our grand-kids like sushi, the 9 year old prefers it to pizza. My wife likes sushi. My son likes sushi. I will buy sushi for them, but getting me to eat that seaweed wrapped sushimi would be like getting the Ayatollah to feast on porky.
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My kids loved sushi before I did. (I love most of it now but didn’t always.) I question their lineage at times… 😉
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Sounds like a bit of an uphill battle! I’m impressed that a 9 y/o would prefer raw fish to pizza. I didn’t start liking sushi until I was well into my 20s.
Not that I ever had sushi before then…
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I was fearful of putting up the flag this morning. Would they come and try to set fire to the house and hurt father and me? Father’s brother a Marine at Iwo Jima. Goddammit, I put up the flag ! Happy 4th.
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Oh, Carl…I’m sure nobody would do that. Hang your flag proudly!
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Hang it right next to your NRA flag. It is a healthy deterrent.
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Back in the old days 4 months ago when people left the house for several consecutive hours each day I often took home some sushi for myself to have for lunch. 🙂
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And you will again…hopefully soon! What’s your favorite kind?
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Salmon. I also like tuna and veg. And I like the horseradish and wasabi. Yum. Yours?
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Hamachi, but really any kind of tuna. And a healthy dollop of wasabi in my soy sauce.
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I miss sushi more than any other food since lockdown. Jealous.
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I hear you. If a month goes by without sushi, I start to get twitchy.
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I agree with your remark to my husband. I love sushi but for someone that young to like, it is interesting. But then again, he also likes hamburgers!
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I had no idea he was your husband, lol!
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Yes, he is. A few know but yes, he is!
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Beautiful murals. I recently listen to a podcast on This American Life regarding the murder of an Indigenous woman. Many go unsolved because the reservation police and local authorities won’t work together.
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Yes, it’s a very troubling trend. There’s a pretty good movie on the subject called “Wind River” starring Jeremy Renner.
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I can see how it was worth going back to take a photo of this mural, Mark. Yes, fascinating learning about the history and culture. I have added “Wind River” to my watch list.
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That one was recommended to me by somebody else. It was surprisingly good considering I’d never heard of it before.
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