Victor Swallow: Thoughts on aging

Monday, September 30, 2019  

I haven’t been up to writing lately for many personal reasons. I am going to write about old age and experiencing getting older. As a kid I use to be afraid of old people. I remember I was about five years old and my parents and I went to the Linehan store in Oglala on the Pine Ridge Reservation. There were some old people sitting outside the store.

I was scared and didn’t want to walk past them to enter the store so I stayed in the car and cried. My mom asked me how come I didn’t come in the store I said, “I’m scared of that unci over there.” Unci in Lakota means grandma. Now I look in the mirror and wonder if any kids are afraid of me.

This summer I turned 80 years old. As I get older I tend to stumble and walk slower and I have to be more mindful of where I plant my steps. I say huh… a lot. My mind is not very sharp and my personal appearance is not so important anymore. I am happy to visit anyone, anywhere at any time. Just waiting for anyone willing to give me the attention and the time. I take naps all day and can sleep at any time. Most of the time I am half comfortable and always living with some pain. I take a handful of pills and now I tend buy more than one bottle of prune juice at a time. I think about others that were a lot younger in my life that passed away and I am still here. I am doing ok.

Two things the Lakota elders look forward to within this community are the elderly picnic and Christmas party the C.H.R. from Sioux San Hospital put on for us every year. They treat us like we are special. My wife and I always get to the picnic early to get good seats. Generally I am the only rooster in the hen house. I notice as the ladies walk from their cars to the picnic they are either shuffling or waddling.

One year Silas Sound Sleeper came to the picnic. I almost got up and hugged him I was so happy there was two roosters now. Someone told me that he was in a nursing home in White River. This last August at the picnic there was a guy by the name of Rattling Chase who was from Sioux San and I visited with him. I told him about 70 years ago there was a guy named John Rattling Chase who would ride horse back to Red Shirt village on the Pine Ridge Reservation. People called him John Huste.

I asked my mom what “Huste” means in Lakota and she said it means “lame.” I found the connection between the two. After visiting with Rattling Chase I noticed he was well versed with the past dealings with the Federal Government and the Lakota.

I would like to list all the people who attend the C.H.R. events that I know but it wouldn’t be fair to the rest of them. I will name one who was two weeks away from her 95th birthday. Her name is Faith Babby from the McGaa family. She still drives but has a hard time getting in and out of the car.

Alton Yellow Boy was the M.C. and the prayer was by Reverend Yellow Hawk. The drum group sang a few songs and Pansy Hawk Wing sang as well. The food consisted of sloppy joes, hot dogs, potato salad, baked beans, cake and coffee. It was real food and good! They gave out door-prizes and had a round dance.

I want to thank several people for organizing an event that my wife and I enjoy so much over the years; Jessie Romero who started it, Sharon Lazotte for continuing it and all the other people behind the scenes who are kind hearted to be a part of an event that make so many elderly Lakota feel special.

We elderly have stories to tell. Stories about the hardships we endured. Stories about our boarding school days. Some even have stories about World War II. Stories about the old Lakota that knew what it was like to roam the wilderness and live free.

Victor D. Swallow was born in 1939, Oglala Lakota, U. S. Navy Veteran, 50 year member of Bricklayers Union, Optimistic realist and fair. Victor can be reached at his daughter’s email address at vikkilovestodance@gmail.com

Copyright permission Native Sun News Today