Jan 5, 2005 WED.

This is an open message to Binky and her family and friends .

I was up before sunrise this morning over here in Switzerland, watching the sunrise over the snow capped Alps mountains. It was a beautiful scene. The skies were scattered with streaks of clouds which were pink against a blue background. The only noise through the cold winter air was an occasional crow or two. They always seem to wake up at first light of day. They are probably getting ready for their busy day ahead of them. They are gathering their buddies to meet up at Starbuck's for morning coffee.

Last night I just signed my last painting of the year 2004. It was a funny coincidence that this painting was from a powwow at the Wildhorse during July 4th 2003 weekend. I had been to many powwows and rodeos with Binky and Roberta over the past years. She and her sis, and most of their family breathed powwow and rodeo days when they walked. The stories are many of our annual adventures during my summer visits to the northwest Oregon powwows and rodeos.

Ours was a mini-powwow highway -- mostly local powwows and rodeos. We ate like real powwow and rodeo junkies on the road. Baloney and soft dry bread and chips and a case of the finest cheap soft drinks we could handle. But, at the powwows we ate like royalty and feasted on salmon and good coffee. We watched Indian and non-Indian communities trying to grow and live together at "friendship feasts" during many a powwow. It was a simple life. It was a good life.

I will most remember Binky's excitement when those rodeo gates opened and she would scream, "Let 'er buck!" It didn't matter  if we were at Chief Joseph Days or the Pendleton Round-Up. A rodeo was a rodeo and by god those riders better buck. Memories of our friends are like this. We remember the little things that made us laugh and cry. For me Binky will always be connected to the land where she made her home.  I hope the Oregon skies are smiling at her today.

Another sunrise will come tomorrow and I will remember her as I look up at the skies and see the outline of the Alps Mountains and Lake Leman below from where I live and will be reminded about powwows and rodeos. My loving friend, Binky, let 'er buck!

From Switzerland, Richard SkyHawk

note: the eagle is flying over the Umatilla River...