Billy Walkabout

Billy Walkabout

Stevie Nicks, "Dreams" -
"...Now here I go again, I see the crystal visions, I keep my visions to myself, It's only me, Who wants to wrap around your dreams... Have you any dreams you'd like to sell? Dreams of loneliness... Like a heartbeat...drives you mad... In the stillness of remembering what you had... what you lost..."

Aragorn~ Lord Of The Rings~
"...This day does not belong to one man but to all. Let us together rebuild this world that we may share in the days of peace..."

A Freedom Hero:
"Individuals who have stood up for justice and humanity among all people..."

Like Billy Walkabout's Blues (Journal Entry)
'I shipped out to Vietnam. I wanted to serve my nation and protect my people. I found myself in the jungles of Vietnam, ten thousand miles from home. Under monsoon rains, under a painted sky, leeches crawled on my arms. The little blood-suckers fell off into the night. The rain fell all night. Back in the world, no gal danced the southern dance for me. And the clouds hid the sun. I was burdened with separation from my family and the rez. I couldn’t wear an eaglefeather on my steel-helmet or tear that peace sign away. My war-shirt had blood all over it. I had blood on my hands. I saw people die. I saw medevac helicopters air lift them out. Those guys would remain in my memory. I didn’t have time to grieve then. Firebase on the distant mountain. The jungle was full of mountain ghosts. Sweet Lady, I never had your love to get me through, Nor did I ever receive any of your letters. You still were so far and so many years away on the great turtle island. I had to go through a year of combat, I came home to a hostile and ungrateful nation. I was treated like a war-criminal. I felt like I didn’t even belong in this land of my ancestors,and all the way through, I was a wounded warrior struggling with PTSD. I tried to get back on track, But I had too many 'nam flashbacks. Not even Ojibwe dreamcatchers could catch all the nightmares.There were years of drug use, alcoholism, homelessness, and racism, Before I found my way to you...'

Billy Walkabout (Painting Bookmark By Talmadge Davis, Cherokee Indian Artist)

In Honor Of Billy Walkabout, My Step-Father.