Third

5th

This past weekend was an enjoyable one. Forgot the camera at home :( Too bad because the scenery was beautiful! Yesterday was a hot one and I got a minor sunburn from it.

Well I danced hard and ended up with 5th place and was the "oldest" of the winners lol It was a 16 and over all weekend long jingle special and most of the girls who placed were still in their teens so I'm glad to know I can still hang in with the young ones as hefty as I am lol

It was especially nice, last night after the winners were announced and they had a winners' honor song and told us to dance our styles. I jammed on that one and then right after that song all the women had to exhibition for honorarium and the drum my husband sings with sang a fast n fancy trick song for us. I channeled the shawl dancer within me and jammed hard, kept up with the beat. Though I didn't nail the first trick ending, I nailed the second.

Afterwards I was walking back to the car to change and a woman approached me. She smiled and told me I was a beautiful dancer and that she loved watching me dance. I smiled back and thanked her. I felt gracious. Starting out in the traditional powwow circuit, I always heard that you dance for the people (especially as a jingle dancer).

It makes me feel really good whenever a spectator/stranger comes up to me and compliments my dancing. I put my heart and soul into each song and I'm glad those feelings resonate throughout the arena and into the crowd and make others feel good. It also lets me know that my style of dancing is appreciated and assures me that I am not a terrible dancer despite getting the gate each weekend.

My husband's grandma had some advice for me some years ago. She said that I shouldn't concentrate on "winning" and that once I start doing that, I will have lost the true meaning of dancing. I remember her advice every time I'm at a powwow nowadays. I'm used to not getting in there every weekend and I'm fine with that. I know that nowadays judging is done way differently than back in the good old days when it was based primarily on dancing abilities.

So anyways, we got back home after 3 AM and Gaazh was so happy to see us. She was meowing and rubbing her face on ours.

I'm still a little tired from the weekend, drive and heat.

Thanks to my mom and dad for letting us stay in the camper for the weekend. I love you guys! It was a nice time up there =) Even though the showers were cold, it was refreshing in yesterday's heat. I accidentally tore the shower head off because I was trying to turn the cold spray away! A steady cool stream was much better though. During supper break I wanted to go and jump in the lake but we went to eat at a very nice house instead. It cooled off and got humid after the sun went down.

It would be nice to return next year.

posted by J*me @ 3:56 PM