Ayn Rand Quote, One of My Favorites!

“The question isn’t who’s going to let me, it’s who’s going to stop me?” Ayn Rand

Navajo Fry Bread Recipe

In honor of Sajani's interview this week, I'm posting this recipe for Navajo Fry Bread and also for Ute Tortillas.  The Ute use the same dough that's used in Navajo Fry Bread, but instead it's cooked on the grill or over an open fire. 

Navajo Fry Bread

3 c unbleached flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 c warm water or milk
1 Tbsp oil or shortening
Oil or shortening, for deep frying (omit with the Ute Tortillas)

In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients except oil and knead until smooth.  Rub oil or shortening over dough.  Cover and let sit for about 30 minutes.  Either pat or roll out enough dough to fit in the palm of your hand in a circle about 1/8 inch thick, and deep fry in hot oil or shortening.  Usually the Fry Bread is a little larger than the size of your hand. (The fry bread is done when it's golden brown.) 
Makes 10-12 fry breads.

Fry bread is often served with honey or powdered sugar.  I prefer to use it like a taco shell with ground beef, lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese
and salsa.

These recipes come from Beverly Cox and Martin Jacobs' cookbook "Spirit of the Harvest:  North American Indian Cooking."

A Conversation with Sajani About Working on an Indian Reservation

Thank you so much for your gracious acceptance, Sajani! Please tell us a little about your background.

I was born in India where my family and I lived in a joint family house with my grandparents, aunt & uncle, and my cousin (talk about the Brady Bunch). I moved to Chicago when I was about 7 and I’ve lived there ever since. Growing up I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but I knew it was something in the healthcare field with a lot of patient interaction, that’s why I chose to pursue pharmacy. And I’ve enjoyed every bit of it.

You've made some big moves in your life.  What is that experience like?

My move to Knoxville was difficult; I’ve always lived around family, so moving to a new state where I didn’t know anyone was tough. The first 5-6 months were the toughest because I was trying to adjust living on my own (so if got into a problem I had to figure it out on my own). I also felt lonely because I was engulfed in school and didn’t really have time for friends.

You worked on an Indian reservation this summer isolating yourself from friends and family.  Was it a similar experience?

I was there for a month- August, but it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had and I’ve recommended other students to do this rotation next year. This experience wasn’t the same as my move to Knoxville because I’ve gotten accustomed to living independently. I also went there with a classmate that I have been friends with throughout school, so it helped having someone there.

What brought you to working on an Indian Reservation? Tell us how and why you ended up there?

I wanted to experience something different, and I heard a lot of good things about this rotation from an upper classman. It’s also a highly competitive rotation; only two students get selected to go there. I was fortunate enough to be selected and fly out to Parker, AZ. We have a couple other Indian reservation opportunities available, but Arizona attracted me the most. I heard from previous students that they get to go to Supai, Grand Canyon to help out in their clinic, and we get to interact and shadow doctors while being at the hospital, so we were exposed to a lot of things. I was able to sit in a couple circumcisions, which was very unique. Supai was a different experience – the pharmacy there was as big as a small closet yet they had the essential medications. The day we were there, we had to do outdates and replace some of their emergency kits. Afterwards we were able to explore the Supai village (at the bottom of the Grand Canyon). Havasupai village is a very secluded area- in order to bring things to the village; they had to be transported in a helicopter. The members of the tribe only catered to essentials when they had to bring things into the village from the outside. Everyone who entered the village had to check in and out of the main entrance (it was a secure area). Many of the members of the tribe (including elderly) walked 5+ miles to get from their home to the clinic and mini store. They used donkeys and horses to transport mail, this was probably the first time I ever encountered poverty among the natives.  Overall, it was a unique experience.

 

Parker Reservation is rather large and has more than one tribe, which tribes live there?

Mohave, Chemehuevi, Hopi, Navajo tribes are all part of the Parker reservation.

What thoughts were going through your head the night before your flight to Parker?

Honestly, I was just super excited to start there and meet the team! It was my first time being on the west coast by myself for a whole month, I felt turmoil of emotions. I was nervous, exhilarated, scared. But I knew it was going to be a unique experience.

Tell us a little about the conditions and life as you saw it on the reservation.

It was definitely different. Like I said many patients had multiple medications, multiple diseases/conditions but they had free healthcare that I thought was remarkable. Some of the patients there had diabetes in the 400-600 levels (super high), but it was normal for them. The patients that came to the clinic were hard workers – they would be outside all day in extreme hot weathers working. One thing I noted about them was that they never complained- they were happy with their lives and work.

Did you find any large differences between their hospitals and one you would find in the States or, was the hospital in the States, bordering the reservation?

They are a federal hospital so I didn’t really see many differences. There were a few things that were a little different such as the amount of medications patients were on (health care didn’t cost them a dime – so some patients were on 30+ medications), they didn’t accept any outside prescriptions (so the patients who did see an outside clinic or hospital doctor had to go to the outpatient clinic at the hospital and have someone authorize a script), and it was a very small hospital with under 15 beds including ER and inpatient.

Did you experience any different food while you were there? 

They didn’t have any traditional Native American restaurants, so I wasn’t exposed to any of their unique foods. They had a lot of Mexican restaurants there. But I learned of a traditional meal they have during their cultural events, it’s the frybread (also called Navajo Tacos). It has refried beans, hamburger, lettuce, and tomatoes and you can drizzle salsa on top or you can eat it plain with powdered sugar.

Did you experience any of their cultural events that you'd like to tell us about?

Unfortunately I didn’t get to experience any cultural events, they were in the following months; however my friend told me all about it and it sounded incredible. Hopefully I can attend one next year.

  

Did you find that you had to make adjustments to the new environment?

No, it was an easy transition there, having a really good team and a friend there helped a lot. After rotations, some of the techs would take us and show us around Parker.

How was your overall experience, with the people, the land, the culture, anything at all?

It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. The people there were super friendly and caring, including the patients. It was hard to not like the patients, everyone recognized you and asked for you during their visit to the hospital. It was a unique experience because growing up in a big town I didn’t know my neighbors; I never realized how different small towns could be where everyone knows everyone. I also got to explore the ghost town on the reservation and learned a little about their history.

Would you like to go back?

I would go back in a heartbeat. I came out of the Indian Reservation with some life long friends and incredible experiences. I’ve considered working for them in the future as a pharmacist and would be honored if I got hired. 

  

Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences!

If you would like to volunteer or provide assistance to any of our Brothers & Sisters at Parker or any Reservation you can explore options here: https://www.aaanativearts.com/mailbag-archive-2/do-indian-reservations-need-summer-volunteers.html

Quote from Michael Flocker on Life

“At the end of the day, it all comes down to you. No matter what your lot in life, there are moments of joy and happiness to be had. You can go out and create them, or you can sit and wallow in a state of self-perpetuated stress and misery. If you have a dream you should commit to it. If you find a vocation that you love and you want to be the very best, good luck to you. But wherever your journey leads you, remember that life is not an assignment. It is an adventure that should be filled with beauty, bliss and, above all, pleasure.”-Michael Flocker

Shakshouka: Israeli Tomato and Poached Egg Stew

Shakshouka is basically a tomato and poached egg stew.  It has a very interesting flavor and it's the first time I've had dried limes.  (I love trying new stuff!) I ordered mine on Amazon Prime, but they can be found at Middle Eastern grocery stores as well.

I'll write it as I found it, but I halved the recipe.  This one serves 8! 

I found this recipe for Shakshouka in The Week Magazine, and it is from Michael Solomonov of Zahav which claims to be America's first Israeli restaurant.

Shakshouka

1/2 c olive oil
2 onions, chopped (about 3 cups)
4 red or green bell peppers, chopped
6 garlic cloves, sliced
2 Tbsp grated dried limes, optional
6 Tbsp sweet paprika
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp kosher salt
8 c tomato puree
1 Tbsp plus 1 tsp sugar
16 large eggs
1 or 2 serrano chilies, thinly sliced, for garnish
chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish
flatbread or crusty sliced bread, for serving

In a cast-iron skillet large enough to accommodate 16 poached eggs, heat 1/4 cup of the olive oil over medium heat. (If you don't have a skillet that large, use two.)  Add onions, bell peppers, garlic, dried lime, paprika, cumin, coriander, and salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables have softened but not browned, about 10 minutes.  Add tomato puree and sugar and simmer until reduced by one-third, about 12 minutes.  Whisk in remaining 1/4 cup oil.

Crack eggs into skillet, spacing them evenly in the sauce.  Lower heat, cover, and cook until egg whites are set but yolks remain runny, about 5 minutes.  Top with sliced chilies and chopped cilantro and serve right from pan, with bread.  Serves 8.

A Conversation with Pilot, Tommy Ferguson

Tommy, Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to me.  Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I am 47 years old and have been married to a wonderful woman for the last 21 years.  We have two sons, aged 18 and 16.  I’ve been in law enforcement since 1998 and Cathy has been since 1996. 

Tommy, yesterday you got your pilot's license, that's fascinating to me!  What made you decide to start taking lessons?

When I was about 13, my mother was the business manager for a pediatrician’s clinic.  One of the doctors got (or had) his pilot’s license.  He took us for a flight and, after putting the plane in a banking turn, had me put my hands and feet on the controls and “fly” the plane.  I also knew a colleague of my father’s who had a plane and, even though I never flew with him, it kinda let me know that normal people did this. It’s something I’ve always wanted to learn about.

Last year, Cathy and I went to Alaska for our 20th Anniversary.  We fell in love with Alaska and began dreaming about what we would do after retiring.  Realistically, we know we’ll never live there, but it was the impetus I needed to do this instead of continuing to talk about it.  I found out that two guys that used to work at the Police Department were running a flight school at an airport 12 minutes from our house.  Shane owns the planes and Will is the main instructor.  Everything just fell into place.                                                                                    

How long did this process take you?  

I started taking lessons in July of last year, and I got my license on Halloween, one year and two days after my first solo flight.  The way Will teaches, you buy a stack of books and you’re responsible for learning on your own.  There’s some of what people would think of as “ground school”, but really very little.  I spent a lot of time reading, studying, and watching YouTube videos.  I was on night shift last year, so I could only fly one day a week.  That was my routine until this year, when I got moved to day shift, then there were weeks I could fly more often.  After I soloed, I could fly anytime the plane was free.  The FAA requires 40 hours in the plane, and I had about 60 when I took the test.  There are schools that advertise getting you your license in a week or two, but I can’t see how you can absorb the knowledge in that time.

Was every moment of it just amazing?

It was amazing and scary and a lot of hard work.  There’s a phrase in the tactical training community - “Get comfortable being uncomfortable”.  I made the decision that I was going to conquer this, no matter how hard it was.  I realized that all the people we admire for doing amazing things were just people, like me.  If this was humanly possible, I could do it.

Did you have to learn flight language/terms/code that we wouldn't think of?

Lord yes.  Aviation is full of acronyms, lists, and lingo.  There’s a shorthand or phrase for EVERYTHING you can think of - like there are five different types of altitude to be aware of.  Pressure altitude, absolute altitude, indicated altitude, true altitude, and density altitude.  There’s also a lot of weather information to learn.  I could bore you to tears.  That’s what I mean about absorbing the knowledge - would you want to fly with someone who just met the minimum standards?

Do you "take the wheel" (is that the term?) in mid-air for the first time or is it taking off, start to finish it's you?

I think my first lesson was about an hour long, and I helped take the controls during a turn just like that flight when I was a kid.  Every flight I had a little more control until I was ready to solo.  I had my hands on the controls all the time, and so did my instructor, and every time he touched his controls less and less.

My instructor showed me how to pre-flight the airplane on the first day, and after that it was my responsibility every time.  Same thing with refueling the plane.

What thoughts were going through your head before your first lesson when you were in the air and "taking the reins"?  (Is that the term?)

I think the phrase would be “taking the stick” - like “stick and rudder”. Will told me once I was a “pretty good stick”.

I was thinking that this was different than what I expected.  There’s a lot to keep up with.  I knew there was going to be a lot of studying in my future.

Yesterday, you piloted with your wife, Cathy, as your passenger.  What thoughts were in your mind before taking off?

I was wishing we had more time to fly, and hoping she enjoyed the flight.  I wasn’t really nervous about flying or having her as a passenger, I just hoped the weather cooperated.

What is your favorite thing or moment when flying?

I compare being in a small aircraft to being in a small boat on the ocean.  There’s almost always some waves or currents, you just can’t see them in the air.  That was the hardest thing to get used to - the sudden thermal or wind change that you have to adjust for.  My favorite thing (so far) is when the air is still and calm and you don’t have to adjust for anything.  Those times are usually early in the morning or late in the afternoon, so that’s my favorite time to fly right now.  Flying at night is really cool too, but I need more practice at that.  Landings are difficult because your depth perception is off.

This sounds like an expensive hobby.  Do you have a plane or are there renting options?  How do you take advantage of your new license? 

I still had my first car,  a 1965 Chevelle that was in decent shape.  I sold it and used that cash for most of my training.  I rented the plane the entire time and have no immediate plans to buy a plane.  A good used plane can be had for the same amount as a good used car, but the maintenance and inspections are what runs the cost up.  I learned in a 1967 Cessna 150 (2 seater) and will be checked out soon in their 1966 Cessna 172 (4 seater).  That will let me carry a couple of people and enough fuel to go fun places.  I could rent a plane legally anywhere in the country that rents planes now, so if we’re going on vacation, I’m taking my paperwork with me!

Have you had any scary moments in flight?

My first solo was kind of scary.  The traditional first solo is three takeoffs and landings, and when I was up there and realized landing this plane was up to me, it was a real eye opener.  The first time I flew away from the airport by myself, I was scared.  That 1967 plane has a compass for navigation, and I was REALLY hoping I could find my way back to the airport.  Lots of days were scary, but like I said, “get comfortable being uncomfortable”.  I told Cathy a couple of times I was leaving the house to do something that scared me to death.

One day I was in the “practice area” about 15 minutes away from the airport, and the engine cowling door (about a foot wide, on the right hand side between the windshield and propellor) came open.  I was afraid it would tear off and damage the windshield or tail, so I turned towards the airport immediately.  The airflow kept the door shut until I flared for landing, then it opened again and tore off.  We found it lying on the centerline of the runway.  That was lots of fun.

If you could choose any plane past or present, what type of plane would you love to try to fly, at least just once?

Any warbird from World War II - an F4U Corsair would be the ultimate.  I believe I could figure out how it works and how to land it.  I’m a child of the ‘80s, so an F-14 Tomcat from Top Gun would be amazing, but I’d get my fool self hurt.  I could figure out one of the warbirds, though (I think).

What's next for you in flying? 

Well, like I said, getting some experience in different planes and flying longer distances.  Lambert’s Cafeteria in Sikeston, MO is about 45 minutes away by plane and I foresee lots of flights there and back with different friends and family members.  I can get a tailwheel plane endorsement pretty quickly, and maybe next year I’ll go on and get my Instrument (IFR) rating.  I can also get licensed to fly drones (UAVs) pretty quickly now, so I am going to do that soon.  The Department I work for doesn’t use drones now, but if they decide to, I’d like to be ready.  They are a great tool for first responders.  Everyone asks if I’m going to learn to fly helicopters for the Department, but I really have no desire to do that.  Adding a rotary endorsement is pretty expensive and the Department has plenty of pilots right now.  I learned that those things spinning overhead are the wings, and that just confounds me.

What other interesting or unusual hobbies do you have?

I have been a martial artist for 30+ years now.  I teach that a little, but not a lot.  I’m more of a never-ending student.  I enjoy letting people like Mark Hatmaker beat up on me and use me to demonstrate stuff.  I used to do a lot of shooting and teaching shooting classes, but I don’t do that much anymore.   I own a Harley-Davidson that I’ve ridden three times in the past two years.  I own a couple of guitars but can’t do much with them.  I ride a road bicycle (think Lance Armstrong) for exercise, and I’ve been doing that for 25 years, but I’m way heavier than most of the folks that do that.  I fish a little and hunt deer a few times a year.  I can do calligraphy and I play chess for fun.

What's one thing you'd like to try but haven't yet?

Skydiving.  Some folks at work have done that and I hear a company in our area on the radio announcing “jumpers away”.  Anything but scuba diving.  That’s one phobia I have NO interest in trying to conquer.  

We always end with advice to readers about what they can do right now, to get up and do something. What is one thing you can tell our readers to do to get started in learning to fly?

Look on AOPA or FAA websites (or the yellow pages) and find a school in your area.  Go take an introductory lesson and see what it’s like.  Talk to the instructor and get a feel for their experience and teaching style.

Thank you so much for taking the time to have this conversation. And congratulations, Pilot!

Thank you!  Let me know when you’re in the area and we’ll go fly!

German Wisdom

"Read, every day, something no one else is reading.Think, every day, something no one else is thinking.Do, every day, something no one else would be silly enough to do.It is bad for the mind to continually be part of unanimity."-- Gotthold Ephraim Lessing(1729-1781) German Dramatist