The Way of Life

There's been a change in plan for this blog today. I've discussed my perspective of a number of topics here, but today I want to talk about the men of the preservation. A man of the preservation, is not the ordinary mainstream American male. The men in my awareness that fit this criteria are men of tribal ancestry that are not waiting for a check from the casino, but rather have assimilated into the culture through employment, but maintained their heritage in the personal aspects of their lifestyle. These men of the preservation lifestyle manage to be well respected in their employment, see to their aging parents or widowed mother, often tend to an ailing spouse, and even if the spouse is healthy, these men recognize that a woman is the weaker vessel and treat her accordingly. I told a friend the other day that men like this are a dying breed, and the sudden passing of my cousin, yesterday, confirms that statement even more readily than I was ready for. My cousin was not even a full year older than me, which is a reminder of my own mortality, but even more important than that reminder, his passing has served as another reminder. I spoke with my aunt this morning, his mother, and I could hear the stoic tone as she calmly stated, that everyone so depended upon him. She said they'd get through it somehow, but it was going to be hard, everyone relied upon John. Following our conversation, I realized the value of one's life truly is weighed by the lives they touched. John saw to so many people, and yet he maintained his heritage. His obit stated that he had been with the same company for 30 years, enjoyed playing with his grandchildren and bow hunting. If you were to describe the men of our family, I guess rugged would be a predominant adjective, and John was, but he also had a tender side. He saw to the needs of his widowed mother, who still lives quite independently while being legally blind. His wife was sick, literally unto death for some time, and he tended to her. He had two beautiful daughters that knew they could call Daddy, any time, and while taking care of all the women folk, never abandoned being the rugged man that is in his heritage. He was the elder son and accepted that responsibility readily, and now in his passing, his brother continues to exhibit the traits of what it is to be a man of the preservation. RIP, John Simmons, I love you and I'll miss you.
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. New Testament