The Rise of the Nations

Chapter 2

After getting settled in the rental car; putting on my seat belt, and adjusting the rear-view mirror, I turned on the engine and pulled out of the parking lot right behind the shuttle bus. As claustrophobic as I was in the elevator, is how claustrophobic I am on a crowded bus without windows that open. I made sure to stay a safe distance behind the bus without letting any other cars get between us.

When I had arrived from Philadelphia, I had made a reservation for a Zip rental car, and in the airport parking lot, I saw the widest range of any car I could ever want. Well, any commercial car I could want. They didn’t have Bugatti’s or Lamborghinis’ so I settled with a car I was already familiar with; a Toyota Camry hybrid in a nice dark green color. My mom and I shared a red one at home and I just loved how smooth it was. The sunroof also didn’t hurt. So while staying close to the bus, I plugged in my ipod and put on some Korean rap music. I jammed in my car the whole half-hour ride to the school, sometimes getting loose and dancing in the car. Driving always made me happy and I was even more so, having accomplished my goal to save up, all on my own, enough to go to Albuquerque for my birthday. I’d saved up for months; splitting each of my paychecks in half.

When at last we pulled into the University of New Mexico’s parking lot, I got out and followed the crowd to the entrance, paid my fees and set my eyes upon probably the most colorful arrangement of people I’d ever seen. There were neon pinks, blues, and green traditional wear, tan buckskin with light blue and pink tassles and beaded southern traditional wear, not to mention the other oranges, purples and reds thrown into the mix. Nearly every color of the rainbow, natural or not, was in that room and it was beautiful and overwhelming at the same time. 

The first day of the pow-wow was being held in the University of New Mexico’s basketball courts. All of the stands had been pushed back to make way for hundreds of round tables all bordering a large empty spot in the middle, where the dancers and Ms. Indian World would compete in various categories. The women competing had their hair in two braids, with strips of buckskin in various colors tied all around the braids and additional long strips of skins and furs. Their makeup was simple and stunning; khol lining the eyes and nude, but sometimes pink, lips. They wore traditional clothing depicting their regions and nations with feathers, beads, tassels, and much more.

The men and family members sat in the closest tables to the performance area and talked in excited tones. Everyone filed in through the door and claimed their seats with their jackets, before going to greet friends, fellow tribe members, and performers. It made me feel out of sync, to be the one of the only ones sitting by themselves. But I enjoyed the uninterrupted space and time, and used to observe all the other guests. The show and competition didn’t start for another hour, so after a minute or two of observation, I decided to go get myself something to drink.

As I navigated around the growing crowd, I simultaneously looked around for any indicators as to where the food and drinks were being sold. I wasn’t looking where I was going and I accidently ran into, and tripped over, a long cart used for transporting tables. Someone caught me though, right before I went down. In fact, they grabbed onto the back of my jacket, which I had zipped closed on the ride over to battle the chill, and just held me there in a position of debacles; half about to fall and diagonal to the floor. Whoever it was who caught me, was pretty strong because I stayed that way for about three whole seconds. Long enough for people to notice some random chick suspended over a cart no one else had been so preoccupied and tripped over.

Yup, stare; just keep staring while I hang here. Its okay, I don’t mind, I thought.

Finally, the mystery hero pulled me up and, with his arms, encircled my waist as if to ensure I wouldn’t trip again. As if he knew I was particularly prone to tripping over large and obvious things. Which I’m not. Not really. Okay so maybe SOMETIMES I trip over random things no one else would normally trip over, but I always have a good reason. Regardless, here was this guy who’d saved me, and he currently has his hands around my waist. Awfully forward of him, isn’t it? But it was nice. Before he started talking; then it was great.