February 22, 2016

Dearest Amon James,

My friend Tom spoke to me about his grandmothers’ story that when their people, the Cherokee and Muskogee Indians, were forced to leave North Georgia and walk the Trail of Tears to Oklahoma, the people of their tribe were concerned about leaving their stories behind.   The stories of their truth, their history and their relationship to all the animals, plants, rocks, sky and water of the area.  But they consulted the council grandmother, who reassured them that when they arrived in Oklahoma they would have new stories and new relationships with to all the animals, plants, rocks, sky and water of that new area.  So they must leave their truth behind.

“But Grandmother,” they cried.  “What if the white man steals our truths. Where shall we hide them?  Under the ground?  In the trees?   Behind a rock?”   Grandmother did not hesitate to reply to them.  She said, “our truths will be held in the most sacred place of all, where no one can get to them.  These truths, or these stories, will be hidden in a sweet dream.  No one can take them away from you my children.  So whenever you want to find them, all you have to do is look inside a sweet dream.”

Last night, my son, I found you.  I found you in my sweet dream.  And you ran to me, and I held you with all my heart and all my love, tightly in my arms.    I know that we will never be lost from one another, Amon.  You can always find me, just as I will always find you, inside a sweet dream.

I love you today and always,

Your Father