She Who Watches

Her name is Tsagaglalal, “She Who Watches,” and she maintains her vigil along the Columbia River. Long ago, Coyote, the trickster, had climbed up to cliffs where the chief resided to watch over her people. He told her that change was coming to her people and then turned her to stone so she could continue to watch over them. For a narrative of this legend, see: https://youtu.be/-gUHVlLLNho

While going about with one thing or another, it suddenly dawned on me that we also had a “watcher” in our home, though not nearly as enduring as Tsagaglalal. I caught this watcher staring from the corner of the dresser. She seemed not the least bit startled that I had caught her; in fact, she remained quite poker-faced. But perhaps I detected the slightest grin; well, if she hasn’t seen it all by now, she never will.

Then it dawned on me that like Tsagaglalal, she is quite discrete, has never talked, and most likely never will. My secrets are safe, unless of course, she works for Santa.

#watcher #dresser #face #santa