Feral Interuptus
by Pasadena Adjacent
I’ve always maintained a mixed reaction to our Thanksgiving holiday. KPFK and PBS along with revisionist history has only increased my anxiety. How about a neutral approach that leaves the ham, fist and platitudes at the dinner table?
I once took a class on Native American History over at Pasadena City College. Given a choice of writing a term paper or going native I chose option two. My first ill fated attempt at nativism involved removing the hair from a moose hide and tanning it with bacon grease. The hide went rancid quickly so I threw it under my parent’s house. Blamed the stink on a neighbors pet. Friend Cathy McNassor, then over at the South West Museum suggested a doll. I was smitten with the museum’s Arapaho rag doll complete with horse hair braids. Tiny Czechoslovakian seed beads once used in trade no longer existed so the choice came down to the limited commercial variety available at fabric and craft stores. It’s Unfortunate but whenever I look at my doll’s moccasins I see Don McClean’s thumb on the cover of “American Pie” That just seems wrong. I’d show you the original Arapaho doll but it’s not in the museums on-line collection and until further notice, most of the collection remains in storage.
I am grateful that the Angeles Crest Highway from La Canada to Wrightwood will be opening up 5am November 30th.
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Holiday interuptus. I’ll be back to my “Feral” them soon. In the meantime, enlarge the first corn knife to find where it’s made.
Happy Thanksgiving, Pas Adj!
Happy Thanksgiving, PA. Pretty doll and pretty funny story.
Well, my, my, Miss American pie.
As American as Japanese corn on the cob. :)
Nice that you were given, and took, the going native option.
That doll looks like she had a date with the old-fashioned juicer.
re AH: ouch
The doll is beautiful, very indigenous-looking, and the corn knife reminds me of the days when everything had “Made in japan” on it instead of “Made in China.” In England in the 50s and 60s, it used to be “Made in Germany.” How times change.
I’m going to pluck up courage and drive the Angeles Crest Highway on Monday (I’ll take a large box of tissues with me to wipe away the tears), but I think (but i hope I’m wrong) that it’s only open to the Clear Creek ranger station. From there, the Angeles National Highway will be open to Palmdale. It’s for the commuters, not the hikers.I miss the high forest (Waterman, Buckhorn, Islip) but it’ll take a while longer before we can go there along the 2.
Back in the days of Japanese Samurai, the swordmakers (there must be a specific name for them) were the best steelmakers at the time. It took years and years to become a swordmaker through apprentice work. As lovely as it is, I don’t think they made your cheese speader
Happy Thanksgiving, though it is little late.
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Keith: Thanks and I hope yours was a nice Holiday.
PJ: One of the few items that I’ve managed to drag with me from place to place over the years. At one point I considered ditching her. So glad I didn’t.
Margaret: drove my mustard 1973 Vega Chevy to the levy but the levy was dry (whats a levy?)
Dina: I saw that small imprint in the knife so I got my glasses out. Made in Japan reference had to be included.
AH: we need to get you a man
Bellis: There was also the “made in occupied Japan” stamp. My butter knifes may predate that period.
I’m getting mixed messages about the highway opening. The Bartender over at Newcombs Ranch was where I got my information. He said the highway from La Canada is opening up. Also the folks over at the Wrightwood ski resort are opening for business on the 30th. Calling around we came up with your information (no stopping allowed … straight through to Palmdale/Lancaster).
Two days before the fire I had hiked to Strawberry peak. Ouch
D: Your comment had me in stiches. Agreed, somehow my corn cob butter spreaders might be seen as a step down on an age old tradition.
Now I want to know why no one picked up on the fact that I (a suburbanite teenager living in a Pasadena Adjacent ranch home) had access to a moose hide? To late…I’m not telling
Deepak Acharya: We’ve given thanks and now we can go back to being our rotten selves (just kidding)
PS: a levee is an earthen mound built alongside a waterway to prevent flooding the land adjacent to the stream or river. A levy is a charge imposed such as a tax or fee oh wait, were you asking in jest?
I wouldn’t put a moose hide past you, I was wondering why you threw it under the house and now you tell me it was a ranch home. Did you put it in the crawl space? And if so, who’s bedroom was it under. Innovative sibling torture routine revealed?
“KPFK and PBS along with revisionist history”
Do you think Howard Zinn is just blowing smoke rings?
it’s because of my attraction to…”KPFK and PBS along with revisionist history”
I was never meant to communicate through the written word. This is all practice.