August 2005 Featured User

Cherokee

Hu-tah-hay!

 (a Cherokee language greeting)

Howdy do everyone – I am Cherokee, and am another, raging, die-hard Alex Van Halen groupie. The highlight of my years of fan-dome was traveling to St. Louis to attend the Van Halen Concert there in 2004.  Then … icing-on-the-cake time -- also attended the VH concert in Tampa and had front row, VIP box seats thanks to a good friend.  Prior to this concert, attended a radio promo party hosted by Radio Station WHTP 102.5 FM, “The Bone”.  Although my profile says I am a Sammy fan (which I am), I am equally a Diamond Dave fan; and a Michael fan.  Eddie is nothing less than a genius, but it is indeed, the God of Thunder himself, Alex Van Halen that makes my blood race.  I keep hoping VH will have a Native American Appreciation event, where only “card-carrying Injuns” are allowed, which will level the playing field a little, and maybe I will get to touch him. OhGod-ohGod-ohGod, puleeeezzzzzeeee just let me touch him!   I am one of the older TVHF site members, but am definitely young in my attitudes – love to dance, love to party. My idea of a perfect weekend involves the beach, partying and listening to live music, then going back to the boat to sleep. Another type of perfect weekend would involve a rocking chair, and reading to one of the (15 total) step-grandchildren. The first rock concert I ever attended was with my older brother, at East Carolina University (back when it was still a college); and the bands were (get this) Jefferson Airplane, Strawberry Alarm Clock and Buffalo Springfield.  Grace Slick was so stoned they had to carry her off the stage. What a concert!

Cherokee History

I was born a poor black child in a family of rich white folks; which, I guess, was really pretty lucky for me!  Nah, just kidding!  Actually born to a fourth generation alcoholic father, slap-dab in the middle of “Tobacco Road”, N.C., and it has been down hill from there!  Fortunately for me and my four siblings (all older and wiser) our mother was  very religious and very strict. While we hated all that church going, the religion part made sure we grew up to be straight as five arrows in the collective quiver of Dixie.  Four of us still have a pulse, which we feel pretty good about, and each of us tends to stop and check it at least once a day. We are part Cherokee American Native, and part Scottish and Irish and English. You should have seen us at pow-wows growing up – we’d be dancing the circle, then break into a damned Irish jig – absolutely humiliating for our parents. We had at one point considered auditioning together for Riverdance, but then we all said, nahhhhhh! (Just kiddin’!)

I was raised as a twin (always dressed identically, etc.) to my sister Bonnie who was killed by a drunk driver at the age of 15. My mother was already mad, but then she really became [a member of]  M.A.D.D. Needless to say, this event was devastating emotionally.  Bonnie and I were the really white girls in the family, both of us having blond hair and blue eyes – genetic throw-backs to our Scottish ancestors I guess, who knows?  The rest of them have dark skin, hair and eyes. They are collectively, a rather glamorous looking bunch. My oldest sister was first-runner-up in the Miss North Carolina pageant long ago. We are second-cousins to the deceased, movie star, Ava Gardner. I’ve won a bunch of awards and junk in the past – one of ‘em was “Outstanding Young Woman in America” for work in civil rights back in 1984. (Big whoop, got my name in a book and a certificate.)  I’m not an over-achiever though – not by a long shot!  But, I’ve been working since I was a child on the farm. Tobacco farming has to be the dirtiest, most grueling work on the planet, and picking cotton is second!  Did have the only singing role in my senior class play, and have a newspaper clipping showing me sitting atop a piano singing. Somewhere around here – guess I need to get back to cleaning out the closets again *snicker*.

My son is a recent graduate of the law enforcement academy. He is engaged to a genuine American beauty of the Georgia Peach variety. They are both in college, which gives me a vicarious thrill, as I never completed my degree requirements.  Oh yeah, my son is a combat veteran of the Afghanistan / Iraq war – a United States Marine –      Hur-rah!  I think war sucks, but I love freedom, and am so proud of my son’s service to his country. 

Cherokee Morality / Immorality

Okay, so I never finished college,  I did however, at the behest of a good friend, sit for the Georgia State Regent’s Exam (eight hour – essay style in your discipline test, which is a requirement for graduation in that state). The aforementioned friend had a double-degree in Sociology / Psychology, but really had a problem just writing all about it and had not passed it twice previously.  So, to help her out, I went and got an ID with my picture on it, her social security number and her signature (which I practiced and practiced until it was perfect); sat for the test in her stead, and she graduated the next week. TaaaaDaaaa!  Immoral you say? (As Splooge would say, “Fak you”.) She earned it – had a 3.5 average for five years of college, while raising two children. Hell yes she earned it!  So, in case you think I am an expedient person, I will tell you that I really am a straight person and a very spiritual-minded individual.  I just do what I think is right, versus doing what somebody in a pulpit says they think is right.  I tend to be a bit of a right-winger as I am highly patriotic, but have some definite left-leaning tendencies too on certain issues. I think gay people have a right to be happy and I think marijuana is a natural drug, which should be legalized. I don’t smoke it myself, but being part Native, I can’t slam it.  (You moms don’t start beating up on me y’heah!)  I think whoever invented “crack”, and “crank” ought to be shot and their family billed for the bullet. These drugs create predators. Oh yeah, if I ever meet the SOB that created “roofies”, I got something really special planned for him and it involves a 45 gallon drum of whoop-ass!!! But generally speaking, I guess you could say I’m more of a libertarian really, because I am for less government, and more personal freedom.

Miscellaneous Cherokee Info

I’m a writer – have 18 novels completed to date – write a bunch of useless poetry all the time, am a chronic “journaler”, and am my family’s geneaologist. I  love gardening, rock climbing free style when in the mountains, am a first-dan black belt in Shuri-Ryu karate-do (my ex was my Sensei), and usually earn my living by working in marketing / business development / administrative work. Needless to say the very physical activities of my youth have pretty much gone by the wayside, leaving arthritis in its path. (Don’t ever get old ya’ll !)  I love singing karaoke, and have been told I sound like Bonnie Raitt.  I have also been told (when singing drunk) that I sound like shit. Both statements are equally true.

My Father (deceased) was a musician and had a band when he was young.  He played acoustical, and steel guitar, and was an excellent vocalist. He had a great sense of humor.  My Mother (also deceased)  had a beautiful voice, but only sang in Church; was a nurse by profession, and later on a missionary by choice, traveling all over the world teaching indigenous people sanitation, nutrition, child care, sewing, etc. while proselytizing.  My siblings are my buddies and my heroes – and my nieces and my nephews are my dear friends.  My son, “The Moose” and my step-daughter, “Mony” (like Sony) are the lights of my life, as are “Mony’s” five children.  My friends make life fun and worthwhile for me. To me they are like family. My better-half, (I call him “Bink”) has been my salvation.  He is also like my jailor at times, but putting up with that just goes with the territory.  He’s a hardworking, intelligent Harley-riding hunk who is NOT a “biker”, but does sport a rather impressive ZZ Topp style beard.  His philosophy seems to be much like Grimes’  – “If I want any shit out of you, I’ll squeeze it out of you” – hahahaha!

I have an I.Q. of 160 (they tested it at the asylum – ha!) and a serious love of humor. If I could have an ideal life, being a comedienne would be part of that scenario.  DiamondSyxx is one of my faves here on the site, due to that killah sense o’ humah !!  I inherited manic-depression (bi-polar whatever) from my parents, and yes, I do know what the inside of a padded room, and a straight jacket feel like. I have never been arrested (Gracias a Dios!), which is probably a miracle. Don’t get me wrong here – I’m a law-abiding person.  My better half’s numero uno rule is never drink and drive – good advice for us all.

My Sensei ex-husband and I used to be Guardian Angels (y’know – red berets, white tee-shirts with angel wings on them – started in New York by Curtis Sliwa, an honest-to-God American hero).  I was second in command, and he was training coordinator.  We had some lively times. I encourage you to check out the website www.guardianangels.org   There’s a lot of “war stories” I could relay which you might enjoy, but it would chew up more space than we have here. But I will tell you we have been literally “stoned” with rocks, bottles and shoes by drug dealers in the ghetto, for messin’ with their business.  I’ve been pinned down in a ditch by uzi fire on a bad night.   We didn’t really give a crap about the dealers – it was the little children they were using for “mules” that infuriated us.  Hurt a child, and you are definitely getting on my bad side.  Anyway, he and I owned a dojo for a long time, but then there was a divorce.

Favorite Things:   

Books: Nonfiction –   Anatomy of the Spirit    Fiction – anything by Tom Clancey, or Ayn Rand 

Music:  Van Halen; U-2; Marvin Gaye; Enigma; Journey; Rolling Stones; ZZ Topp; Bonnie Raitt; John Lee Hooker; Bo Bice; Black Eyed Peas; Earth Wind & Fire; The Beatles; Lenny Kravitz and the man he channels, Jimi Hendrix; and our very own rock star, L.O.C. (although I haven’t had the privilege of seeing him and his band in person yet). 

Animals: Dogs!!!!  we have two, a boxer and a Lab mix 
     

Vacation spots:  Negril beach, Jamaica, St. Croix, USVI, and Marco Island, Florida. 

Drink of choice: Pepsi Cola,  a perfect Stolichnaya martini straight up w/ olives, or Jack and Coke. 

Favorite meal:  snow crab claws and lobster, broiled served with a perfect Cesar salad and a perfectly chilled bottle of Pouilly Fuisse’.

Cherokee Philosophy

I think forgiveness is the key to staying healthy; and for those having a chronic health problem, I encourage you to read Anatomy of the Spirit by Carolyn Myss, Ph.D. I credit that book, and my faith in God for surviving cancer.  It’s work now, but if you are willing to do the work, you can get well.  It took me about two years, but my case is not unique.  Dr. Myss discusses all types of miraculous healing.  What was shocking to me, was how very upset my getting well made other people who had gone the traditional route of chemotherapy, radiation, and radical surgery.  It was as if my return to health was resented. Tough shit!  I’m not staying sick in order to support anyone else’s belief system. I am not kidding one bit on this issue. Sometimes it’s just better to keep things to yourself – too late for me, but be forewarned.  Clearly though, I forgive those who gave me grief.  Check out Kevin Trudeau’s book Natural Cures. If anyone is harboring feelings of anger and resentment against anyone, please examine these feelings (the REAL reason for them), and get rid of them promptly. Whoever it was that said “anger is an acid that destroys the vessel that contains it” was telling the truth.  Also, whoever said, “when one points a finger of blame, three fingers are pointing back at you” spoke truth. In other words, don’t judge others; unless of course you are a judicial type judge, then that would be your job wouldn’t it?  Here’s a quote from a book I’m reading right now:  “A layman “sees” a metal cube as solid. This is one level of reality – a reality based on a sensory model. The physicist, using another model, “sees” a metal cube as largely composed of empty space between the atoms that make up the cube. Both models are valid; both a “real” and can be proved through experiments. There is no single valid external reality – reality is multi-faceted.”  All of life is perspective.

Yadda yadda yadda

I think I agree with the author, Napoleon Hill who wrote Think and Grow Rich.  One important point he makes in his book is, “thoughts are things”.  In other words, just as we used to not understand microwaves, radio waves, television signals, cellular and digital phone signals – on some future day, the truth of thought waves will be revealed.  They have weight, mass and matter; and when you send a thought out into the universe, it gathers like-energy.  Here’s a “for instance”:  You work with Ann, and she drives you nuts. You find her superficial and annoying. You find that she burns microwave popcorn on a regular basis. (Nah, just kidding on that last comment – see Gripes of Roth forum for the highly humorous background in SoCalChelle’s thread on annoying co-worker.) 

Anyway – every time you look at Ann, you think, “what a jerk and what an asshole”.  Well you have just projected that thought into the universe, the nature of which is circular.  It goes out and travels through the ether, collecting more negative type energy as it moves, and at some point, it is going to pass through Ann’s energy field.  At a very subliminal level, she is going to know what you think of her, and guess what?  She’s gonna start hating you back.  So, now we have Ann’s negativity added to your own (plus others’), and finally one day it comes home and strikes you in your heart. Stronger than before – more negative than before, plus you have the bonus of Ann’s enmity now.  Try doing the reverse of this, and see what happens.  Find something, anything to like about Ann, and dwell on that one good point, or those two good points.  Smile when you see her, and dwell on the good.  Your good thoughts travel and collect energy same as your bad thoughts. If you are persistent in your effort to like Ann, eventually your bad feelings will be dispelled, and the two of you will probably end up friends.  C’mon people, I’m giving you pearls here!  Human Resource Manager’s across America would kill for this information, which could be the death of office politics.

I believe that God the Eternal Father and center of all things in all universes, has given every individual an endowment of Himself – my sister refers to it as the Divine “Micro-dot”.  Each of us is part divine as a result.  As we live and experience life, He is also sharing it with us.  I think we have many undiscovered abilities as a result of this gift, and the more spiritual beings we become, the more these gifts are revealed to us.  I personally think that Jesus the Christ is the Son of God the Eternal Father; and this His bestowal on this planet, in human form has ensured that we all may have eternal life. 

I think God is Love, and He loves us so much, that he will always be looking for us to be looking for Him. I don’t believe in any flaming hellfire or hateful punitive God. I may be the world’s worst Mormon, but I believe the LDS Church is the one true Church on this planet. I know a lot of you guys aren’t into organized religion, but I had to say this. I don’t go to Church on Sunday either anymore, but I live my religion everyday.  (The operative word here is MY religion – MY way.)  My conversion was intellectual at first, but deeply heart-felt later.  I simply am not a “chalk walker” – I like to drink, and I like to smoke, and I like to enjoy my life, versus walking around with my hands piously folded pretending to be something I am not.  My father was fond of saying, his religion consisted of this – “Love your neighbor as yourself” and that was it.  Worked for him, and he was well loved in our community for being a big-hearted guy. So I guess, I kind of believe like he did – just be good to each other.

Yadda Yadda Yadda….

I believe you have to fight, for your right, to parrrrtayyyyyy!  Being a “live and let live” individual, I think we are all entitled to our personal choices, and that making those choices is a very important part of why we are even here.  Free will – may it live eternally !!!  This has been fun – it’s such an ego trip because it’s all about me. Hahahahaha! Thanks ‘Chelle and Parrothead; for this lovely Van Halen site. All you guys RRRRAAAAWWWWKKKKKK !