Remembering Norton

I met Norton Buffalo only a few weeks before his passing. He was a patient of mine at Feather River Hospital, the hospital where I work and also the place where I'm completing my clinical rotations for nursing school.

When I met Norton, I had no idea he was a gifted musician. I did not know he was in the Steve Miller Band or that he had performed with people like Bonnie Raitt, Olivia Newton John, and The Doobie Brothers. I did not know he had been nominated for more than one Grammy.

Norton Buffalo struck me as a very humble, kind human being. He was one of those people who reminded me why I decided to go into nursing. As sick as he was, he always thanked me and other clinical staff for the care he was receiving.

After I found out he was in the Steve Miller Band, I started laughing. On my way to work that night, I had been listening to one of my favorite songs by them: The Joker! I told Norton that my seven-year-old son knew all the words to The Joker... he smiled as I said, "I know it's probably not an appropriate song for a seven-year-old, but he doesn't know what he's singing." Norton then began singing, "Don't worry, baby..." until he became short of breath. That was when I decided to let him rest.

A couple of days later, I gave Norton's son a brightly colored flannel pillow case I had made for his father. I decided not to give it to Norton myself because I wanted to let him relax. I knew he had had many visitors the days before. However, after he received the pillow case, he asked his nurse if she could send me in. He was so very thankful for the gift. I was truly touched by how grateful he was, especially because I felt I really hadn't done much at all.

That afternoon, Norton and I spent some time together. He shared photos with me of his family, and photos from his tour with the Steve Miller Band in Europe. Before I left, Norton asked if we could take a photo together. Of course, I said, "Yes!" I was thrilled. We held up the pillow in the photo:


I learned of Norton's passing, ironically, on the day I went to deliver the quilts to the Handi-Riders. The following day, an article about Norton Buffalo was in the same newspaper where my Spirit Quilts story was on the front page.

I was deeply saddened by his passing, but I know his legacy will live on for a very very long time to come. What a talent has graced this Earth!

Down to the Wire (aka Shut Up and Sew!)

This year, Spirit Quilts experienced a shortage of volunteers. We also had one volunteer who was hospitalized during our project (thankfully, she is home recovering well), and another whose sewing machine was temporarily broken. After we delivered the first batch of quilts to the Handi-Riders, I knew we were going to have to work like crazy to get the last of the quilts done. Yes, we quilted 30 quilts in 4 days! GO SHIRLEY, GO MOM, GO ME!


As Shirley was at home, loading quilts on her long arm with her husband, Roy, Mom and I worked for 15 hours in one day. We pinned, we ironed, we quilted, we put binding on the quilts, we made labels. My 7-year-old son, Jakob, helped as well, by taking out the safety pins once the quilts were completed.



So, here's what happens after you've been quilting for several hours straight:

1. Lots of seam ripping (even though I made a rule that there would be no seam ripping)!
2. Mom sews her thumb. (I specifically asked that no skin be sewn into the quilts.) - 10 pm
3. The word "Oops!" (This occurred all day.)
4. More seam ripping after the word "Oops!"
5. Bobbins continuously running out of thread, and not figuring out you were sewing with an empty bobbin until you were almost done with the quilt.
6. Piecing batting after the roll of 45 yards ran out!
7. A dozen cups of tea (per person).
8. Husband and kids staying out of the way.
9. Rummaging through boxes of donated fabric to find more large pieces we could use for the backs of the quilts.
10. Three quilt deliveries to the Handi-Riders before Saturday so they had enough quilts for their students on Thursday and Friday.
11. Lots of giggling. (Mostly after 9 pm, when Mom and I started getting "punchy.")
12. Reloading the CD player - we listened to the following during our quilting marathon: Anais Mitchell, The Duhks, Sheryl Crow, Tracy Chapman, U2, and yes, we even listened to my sons' Puff the Magic Dragon CD.
13. Mom trying to have an intellectual conversation over the music and loud whirring of two sewing machines - unable to hear her, my response was always, "Shut up and sew!"
14. Jakob, after he'd gone to bed, yelling, "Be quiet, I'm trying to sleep!"
15. This was followed by, "Shut up and sew!"

On Saturday morning, I drove to the Handi-Riders arenas, with the last of the quilts. Jakob and Declan helped me hand out the quilts. I was, once again, touched by how pleased the students were to receive their quilts.

PROJECT K 2009: THE HANDI-PROJECT

Inspired by my mother's walk across America with her wild Mustang, Winnie, I decided to do a project this year that encompassed both children and horses. Like my mother, I wanted to show how useful animals, especially horses, can be to people. Horses are high-sensitives, and thus, can key in to a human's needs. In short, horses heal. Instead of destroying ranges where wild horses roam, we should treasure these amazing animals.

That being said, this year, it was easy to choose an organization to donate our quilts to! The Handi-Riders of Butte County has a fantastic program which serves "the special needs of the physically and mentally challenged with therapeutic horseback riding."




Yesterday afternoon, I traveled to the Handi-Riders site with my mom, my husband, and my two young sons. We brought with us 40 handmade quilts, which we had sewn with help from Shirley Jinks, Leslie Hall, Sharon Blau, Jean Nelson, Darlene Culver, Kathy Wood, and Jan Kinney. Each quilt, designed by Shirley Jinks and myself, included a strip of horse fabric. A label was included on the back of every quilt, which read, "You are a STUPENDOUS (or similar adjective) Handi-Rider!"

At I watched the horseback riding classes with my mom, Gary, and the boys, I was impressed. Children who had trouble walking sat tall in the saddle. It was evident that the instructors design lessons specifically tailored to help the children with their unique needs. The horses are patient and kind; they are tuned into their riders. Yesterday was the last class of the fall session, and the bond between horse and rider was evident when Jessie hugged her horse good-bye.


Following each lesson, my boys, Jakob and Declan, helped me hand out the quilts to the Handi-Riders. It was obvious, even if the children weren't always able to verbalize it, that they were thrilled to be getting the quilts. One mother told me she was going to put her daughter's quilt on her bed for her to treasure forever.

On Saturday, I will be returning to the Handi-Riders arenas to present the children with another 30 quilts. In addition to the 70 quilts (one for each student), one quilt was made and raffled off, to help raise money for the Handi-Riders program, since it has experienced many budget cuts this season.

This year's project is lovingly dedicated to the memory of Randi Lewis-Greene, a lover of both people and horses.