My reasoning for wanting to become chief of the Sioux tribe for the 2009-2010 year was simple: Life is busy and work will consume all the time & energy I allow. Taking responsibility for the tribe commits me to not only attending events and meetings, but this will allow me to give back to an organization that had already provided great experiences and introduced us to many great people I may not have ever known otherwise. By the time the dance was nearing, I had a flawless attendance record, as expected. Then came the "strong urging" for me to attend an out-of-town event for work that would conflict with the November tribal meeting. Doh. I ended up asking a former chief to stand in for me at the monthly tribal meeting and missed the Longhouse meeting but I won't miss the dance..which was to be only a few days later.
The business trip was extended a day, putting me in a hotel for yet another night after yet another intense 15+ hour day. By the time I was returning home on the Friday before the Sunday dance, I was spent. The thought of getting into a suit at the end of a weekend before returning to the demanding Corporate America on Monday concerned me a bit. I recalled that I've never regretted a single moment of Indian Princesses, so it was time to just "Brave-Up!"
When I arrived home I was greeted by one exuberant princess, my Lily of the Valley, who had her dress, shoes, and hair-style (Lucy from the Narnia movies inspired) all picked out and couldn't get the words out fast enough. It isn't possible to overstate how excited she was about the dance! I needed to get my own ducks in a row and go pick up one pair of black tights on Saturday. (Are there bonus points for that last bit..?)
Sunday came, we got all dressed up and ready to head out. Now, 7 year olds are often talkative when they are excited about something, but this was a whole new level! She talked about all her friends (by name, individually) that she looked forward to seeing, how much pizza she was going to eat, how she was going to boogie until she dropped, and, how handsome I looked in my fancy clothes. I grinned and saw the event through her eyes which started a realization: this wasn't just another outing with the nation, this was a big deal and something almost dream-like to her..and I started to feel it too.
As we walked in, we sat in a nice chair in front of a fire and a professional-quality photograph was taken. We were greeted by many familiar faces. Smiles & greetings from a very cleaned-up nation of Braves and Princesses began the moment we set out of the car. We had limbos, conga lines, pizza, pop, disco-dancing to classics (Y-M-C-A never gets old!), slow dances, and smiles everywhere you turned..braves and princesses alike.
I have to admit being a bit shocked by the glaring contrast in attire from the camp-outs where many of us go with very basic hygiene and can be smelled in the same campfire-scented-flannel for 3 days. This crew cleans up well!
Some day, my beautiful daughter will likely be going to a dance like this without me to watch out for her. How rare is to to be able to model how she should be treated and get to practice something that was so socially challenging for many of us. Well, it was for me, anyway..
There was a palpable energy coming from the nation that night. It's that energy and enthusiasm that makes every event spectacular and filled with memories, regardless of what wasn't perfect. (Imperfections become sources of well-intentioned humor around future campfires.) The last thing my daughter said as I tucked her in that night was, "I think I'll remember this night forever."
Me too.
Laughing Panther
Chief of the Sioux Tribe
