Watermelon Grandma
Growing up on the Rez has left me with a brain full of great memories. One of my fondest isn’t from back in the day but from just a few years back. My Grandmother was one of the most important women in my life and taught me the virtues of hard work especially because she raised me on a farm.
Being a city boy, I took my sons, Christian and Treston, back to the
farm as much as I could and I can tell you when I tried to get them to do any
type of work they wined and cried and moaned about every little task. But
today under Grandma’s tutelage he gladly picked up a shovel and started after
the weeds in the fields. I always thought she had some kind of magic
spell to get the little kids to do what she wanted, my wife calls it wisdom, I
disagree.
Not long afterwards they began their trek back to the trees with a
massive watermelon they had just picked. Treston, was super excited and
jumping and yelling as he ran back through the field. It was his first time
realizing how farming worked. It put things in perspective and connected the
lessons from school. He was so excited you’d think he just won the
lottery.
They sat on an old cinderblock bench held together by bailing
wire. They set the watermelon between the two of them and started at
it. Treston’s eyes grew as it was cut in half and he was given the first
slice. And he started at it without any hesitation. His face was
soon covered in watermelon juice as seed clung to the side of his face, it
reminded me so much of myself when I was young. I sat and watched them for a
bit as they tore into it and I realized they were both at opposite ends of
life. There was a mix of emotion that flooded over me but I realized that
I must live in the moment and take in as much of this amazing life moment as I
could. My heart smiled as I remembered sharing melons with her when I was
a child and here was my son, 30 years later on the same land with his great
grandma sharing the fruits of labor.
I honestly don’t remember much else from that day other than that
moment but it is one of the fondest memories I have of the 2 of them on the
farm"
Christopher Billey is a Professional Photographer based out of the
Phoenix Metro Area in Arizona. He is Dine' and a father to 2 boys and
husband to Tammie Billey. Who just so happens to be his business partner
and Boss, on some occasions.
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