Monday, November 25, 2019

Monday, November 25, 2019

Tonight's picture was taken in November of 2002. A friend of mine gave me this huge entertainment saucer. At first I really thought, what am I going to do with this? It took up 1/3 of our living room space. However, I quickly learned that this saucer was a God sent. Mattie would stay in it for a few minutes, while I could get things done around our home. He especially loved how his feet touched the ground and he could turn 360 degrees in this seat!


Quote of the day: When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude. ~ Gilbert K. Chesterton

We picked up Peter's parents at the airport today and then went to lunch at the Hamilton, part of the Clyde's Restaurant Group. After lunch we toured the National Museum of the American Indian. Though this Museum has been open since 2004, I have never visited it before. 

Everything about the Museum is not user friendly. Starting with the entrance and proceeding through security. I have been through other Smithsonian museum security check points, but today's experience was bordering on rude. It didn't leave a good first impression. 

I would say that the museum has more space than actual exhibits. They recommend that you start on the fourth floor and work your way down to the first floor. On the fourth floor was a 10 minute introductory video. Saddened to say a video with very little content, no introduction to the museum and NO preparation for what we would be seeing. 

The fourth floor was dedicated to treaties and the deals between Native Americans  and the US government. The content in the Museum is heavy and it is presented in a very sterile and uninteresting manner. Lots of words and little to no actual exhibits. 

I snapped a photo of this display because it was a journal that had an entry for each day, over the course of a whole month. The journal gave us a snapshot of what an American Indian experienced as he was forced to migrate from one state to another. What caught my attention was each day on the journey, a child died. 

We were hoping to see more of the beautiful items created by Native Americans and also learn more about each of the tribes. However, to me the Museum is disjointed and need of a strong curator. 

This display featured dolls and toys. Items children played with that also enabled them to learn about their culture and values. 

This room was noteworthy. It is called the Americans room. On each of the walls, were ads that depicted Native Americans. Specifically how Native Americans were promoted in all every day items...........

 Such as apples.

 A Root Beer Shop.

Even in Friskies!

 Featured in this bourbon ad. 

In the 1970s this ad was popular as it was a fight against pollution. As a viewer, we assumed the person delivering the message was a Native American. Turns out he wasn't in real life. 

We know this honey now as Sue Bee. However, it was once known as Sioux Bee. 

These were handkerchiefs.  But check these out as they were advertised at hanker chiefs. 

It's a corn flakes ad, yet look at how the little girl was dressed. With an Indian headdress.  

Wild West Tribal Chief in Legos no less.