My father's Pearl

by Pearl mccoury
(Vsshon island wa)

Growing up in a household with a father that was in the military and knowing his background being native American but not knowing a lot of the ceremonials at the age I am now which is like 65 I happen to come across what it meant when the Cherokee first daughter father names the first daughter born and he named me Pearl and his mother they called her Maggie snowbird but she was also Margaret which is another part of pearl it was so special I can't explain it how it made me feel inside that that was the name he chose for me and my life has followed along with that I have irritated people and I brought people in my heart I love being a pearl I love it