Dreams, Moments, Travels
This is Mark Shimer. I hired Mark for his first graphics assignment following his graduation from a Phoenix Technical School.
We are meeting Mark in Little Tokyo, Downtown Los Angeles, for some Shabu Shabu and shopping at Kinokuniya Book Store, maybe even a walk down 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica. Mark is now a recent nominee for a Technical Emmy – congrats, Mark. Part of the weekend was spent visiting my father, who was ill at home, but thrilled with our visits.
Maybe it’s a reflex to smile when the camera is pointing at you, but these are the most bewildering smiles as we are here in Window Rock, Arizona on the Navajo Reservation to lay Dion’s father, Wilson, to rest. This should be a solemn day, but on the other hand, we are here to celebrate that Wilson Terry was enjoying the company of friends and family near the time of passing.
After the church ceremony in St. Michaels, we had to pick up a couple of Dion’s nieces Amanda and Monica who were traveling with us to Wide Ruin, where Dion’s grandmother lived. Dion’s mom, Charity, was traveling with other family members. This was an honor that will never be forgotten.
By this time, Caroline and I had known Dion Terry for a solid five years and helped encourage his push into art as a profession. We’d just returned from our long trip across America, and the next day, Dion called asking if we’d join him and his family for Thanksgiving; after our encounter with this country, it seemed incredibly fitting to have this celebration feast with a Native American family. Tragically, Dion’s father passed away just a few days later.
This is our journey up to Window Rock, Arizona, where Wilson Terry is being laid to rest.