R.I.P., Tony Hillerman (1925-2008)

Tony Hillerman died today. How many wonderful hours we've spent learning about the Navajos and their culture. He was a great storyteller. Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee became welcome visitors in our house, thanks to Hillerman's great stories. His understanding of the Navajo and their culture was so comprehensive that the Navajos trusted him implicity and made him an honorary member of their community.

And we learned to love the magnificent landscape of the Dineh - the Navajo Reservation in the Four Corners area of the Southwest. The geography of NW New Mexico and NE Arizona was as much a character in his stories as any of the people. We always read his books with the AAA Indian County map nearby. We could always follow his characters through the plot. And in real life, we spent many hours driving those roads, and finding those remote locations mentioned in his stories. Things were always exactly where he said they were.

We learned about the Navajo and Zuni art and crafts. Once we heard about the Crownpoint (NM) rug auction, we knew we had to go there. The rugs are auctioned once a month in this remote village. The weaver gets 100% of the selling price. Granted some are sold to dealers who make great profits on them. But many, too, go to delighted purchasers - like us - who are end consumers and are thrilled to have them in our homes.

Tony Hillerman lived a long, full life, and we are glad that he was able to be part of our life.
















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Betsy called this evening, full of happiness and relief, and had to share her news. Ken had called her to say that all looked good, and there was no recurrence of the tumor. No further treatment is planned, other than, I assume, routine check-ups.