In our late sixties, we can no longer count on writing the next Christmas letter, so I've decided to add significant events as they occur.

The first excitement of the year in my life grew out of an e-mail I received from my Cherokee Councilwoman, Cara Cowan (now Cowan-Watts), several years ago, asking tribal citizens to ask their federal legislators to help get a bill passed that would provide funds for staffing and supplying a new clinic in Muskogee to relieve the overburdened W.W. Hastings Hospital in Tahlequah. I called Rose Olver, a long-time friend, to ask her advice in approaching her husband, Congressman John Olver about the matter, and the next thing I knew I was in the middle of what amounted to a graduate seminar in politics with John, who not only agreed to report it out of committee, but to sign on as a co-sponsor and coordinate with Congressman Dan Boren of Oklahoma.

Soon I was getting notes thanking me for having gotten the bill through--much to my surprise, because, while I was glad to be able to contribute to the well-being of my fellow Cherokees, I felt I had done a very small thing indeed.

It wasn't until I flew down to Oklahoma for the grand opening of the splendid new facility in January that I discovered why everyone was so excited: The bill had been hanging fire for at least a decade before John got involved. I was thrilled at the results: The team effort produced a building that makes you feel good just to walk inside. My favorite part is the seven pillars surrounding the entrance rotunda to symbolize the seven clans. On the outside of the building, they are faced with brick, reminescent of the pillars on the front of the Women's Female Seminary building in Tahlequah. The building was destroyed by fire after my grandmother graduated, leaving only a few of the pillars to remind us of what once was; they now mark the entrance to the Cherokee Heritage Museum.

For a photograph of the beautiful Three Rivers Clinic building, go to this link or this one. When I get my photos developed, they will be posted, too.