Title: Fast cars and frybread : reports from the Rez /
Authors: Johnson, Gordon.
Publisher: Heyday Books,
Year: 2007
Subjects: Indians of North America California Pala Indian Reservation Social life and customs.
Abstract: "Fast Cars and Frybread is a collection of Gordon Johnson's reminiscences of a life lived on and off of a reservation. These essays describe fiestas with frybread and beans, storytelling, dancing, snow cones, dogfights, and sometimes human fights. They are about sweat lodges and funerals, puppy love and rock 'n' roll. In all of them, Johnson captures the spirit of reservation life with the skill of a modern journalist and the sensitivity of one who has lived life on Indian time."--book jacket.
Contents: More than a shot in the dark -- Lighting the way for the dearly departed -- Homespun tales from the front porch -- A hawk's cry, a dusty saddle, and memories -- When walking doesn't cure what ails you -- Nothing like a sweat to cure what ails you -- As spirits of the old ones dance, we sing -- Nights of fast cars, fisticuffs, and fiesta fun -- Boy and dog take a walk to the store -- Better not to ask for whom the bell tolls -- At the play with the Gods at high altitude -- Songs smooth the way for final passage -- We missed some grand days under Uncle Erle's oaks -- A surrealistic juxtaposition of cultures -- Cowboy was content with a simple life -- Food theory backed by bulk of evidence -- Grandfather's stories of life are lasting gifts -- Hankering for hongos leads to humid hike -- Voices of past resound amid adobes of Cupa -- As always, Wally leads the way -- Mother's love endures, even in a heat wave -- A pouch full of more memories for mother -- Making friends during college orientation -- Dishing out advice: a hazard of getting older -- New Pechanga, old bluesman hit high notes -- Last of great brush poppers rides sober trail -- The land was Buddy Jean's grocery store -- Barefoot on a lark in summer -- Imagination has free rein under the stars -- Morning run jogs memories of reservation -- Rez life offers Indian comics abundant tales -- Aunt Inez, end of era, source of rich memories -- Good intentions still blooming in the garden -- Young writer: best way is the hemingway -- Shopkeeper's murder still raises doubts -- Long trip gives a glimpse into a father's eyes -- Life is here. Life is now. Wait's over. -- Scouring the trails with a teen's best pal -- Remembering the low tide of puppy love -- Boxing fan hit with changes at the fights -- He'd rather be tapping out of dance shows -- Closing a portal to past; opening one to promise -- Fire up the pit to barbecue the bird.