Who Is Little Big Woman?

Who is Little Big Woman? I'm not really sure, but I think she's a little like Jack Crabb, the main character in Tomas Berger's novel, "Little Big Man", only she's a girl.

The novel begins with a 121-year-old Jack recounting his long and eventful life to a historian. His adventures include being raised by a Cheyenne tribe after his family is massacred, becoming a gunslinger, a sidekick to Wild Bill Hickok, and finally a scout for General George Armstrong Custer.

While living with the Cheyenne, Jack is given the name "Little Big Man" because he is short, but very brave.

Like Jack, I am also short, but brave, and my brief sojourn here on Earth has also been episodic.

From a rebellious Italian kid growing up in Jersey in the 60s, to Oregon commune dweller in the 70s, to homemaker and marathoner in the 80s, to single parent, student, and IT specialist for Denver Public Schools in the 90s, and for the past 9 years, technical writer at Sun, I feel like I've seen and done it all. But, Sun isn't my first rodeo and it probably won't be my last.

And when I come to the end of my road, like Jack, I'll quote Old Lodge Skins the great Cheyenne leader, and say, "Today is a good day to die."

Posted at 08:59AM Jan 09, 2009 by Juanita Heieck in Personal  |