the bird on fire

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Beethoven is de-composing

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By Middle-Schooler Penny Andreas

Palm Valley students discover new music, make beautiful music, critique recently released
music, share compelling music. When streaming or listening or exploring music, we often search by musical genres. Penny shares her favorite genres, and one not-so-favorite. She has eclectic taste and may have some listening “finds” for you.

Out of the millions and billions and trillions of songs and albums, there are different genres. Basically, a genre is just a broad type of music. Many genres are  awesome, but these are some of my favorites, and one not-so-favorite. 

Number One: Indie Music

This is my absolute favorite genre of music because of its chill, slow-down vibe. I love the instruments they use, along with the subtle echo-y lyrics. It generally has a slow-ish and steady beat. This music is great to listen to while studying, reading, or basically doing anything mellow. My favorite artists in this genre are Em Beihold, Tame Impala, The Alvvays, and Giveon.

Photo Source: freepik.com

Number Two: Hip Hop and Rap

Hip hop and rap is a classic genre that has been around for a long time. I love hip hop because the sounds and the lyrics are good; some of them tell stories, while others may be about life. Though I do not recommend this type of music if you are not allowed to listen to “explicit lyrics.” There are some words that you might rather not want to ask your parents about….Anyways some of my favorite artists are Dr. Dre, Eminem, G-Unit, 50 Cent, Kendrik Lamar, Jay-Z, and Snoop Dogg. 

Number Three: Soul

Soul is one of the absolute greatest genres of all time. It first started in the early 1950s, with the rise of gospel music. This was very popular in Black churches, but it quickly spread beyond churches, and it evolved into what is now called soul. Soul is a very broad word for a variety of musical albums and artists, but it is mainly music with a steady beat and a symphony of trumpets, saxophones, and trombones with amazing vocal riffs. Some of my favorite artists in soul are Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, James Brown, and Marvin Gaye. 

And . . . One Dislike: Pop

Pop is pretty much just popular music all mushed into one genre. Honestly, I actually hate pop. There’s one specific sound that is just repeated over and over and over again. Also, so many people use samples that were made for original songs, by the original artist, which sounds like total plagiarism, though somehow they get away with it. 

The screen

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A Poem, by Middle-Schooler Penny Andreas

As the screen turns on

And the pixels turn to color

I stare at it blankly

My mind turning into rubber

4 hours pass

I stay in the same spot

Not blinking once

My eyes about to pop

When it finally turns off

My eyes blink fast

Suddenly bored

Wondering what to do next

Knock Knock?

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By 7th grader Penny Andreas

A lot can be said and conveyed via comedy. PVS Bloggers searched for something comic that
fascinated them or was an integral part of life. Penny remembers those ever-present, slightly annoying knock-knock jokes.

Jokes are a very special phase that I believe all kids go through at one time in their life. My sister, at age five, loved to run up and say something like, “Why did the cat cross the road? . . . To go to the bakery.” It made no sense, but it cracked her up. Knock-knock jokes, in particular, have been around since the 1900s, says NPR’s article “The Secret History of Knock-Knock Jokes.” One thing most people all like are some good ol’ knee-slappers. I surveyed a couple of people to see what their favorite jokes were. I’ve included them below. Enjoy! 🙂

(The “Interrupting Cow” joke happened way too many times so I apologize if you don’t see yours.)

 

7th-Grader Roman Sooban: Knock, knock? 

Who’s there? 

Spell!

Spell who?

W. H. O. 

Teacher Mrs. Maguire: Knock, knock?

Who’s there? 

Impatient cow. 

Impati-

MOO!

7th-Grader Jackie Padgett: Why did the chicken cross the road? 

I don’t know. Why?

To get to the idiot’s house. 

Okay.

Knock knock.

Who’s there? 

The chicken. 

(Jackie: I always fall for this one; it’s sad.)

7th-Grader Sierra James: What do you call a bear with no teeth? 

Dunno.

A gummy bear!

6th-Grader Lorelei Behr: Knock, knock?

Who’s there? 

Banana.

Banana who?

Knock, knock.

Who’s there?

Banana.

Banana who?

Knock, knock.

Who’s there?

Orange.

Orange who?

Orange you glad I didn’t say banana?

9th-Grader Kayliee Augustine: Knock, knock.

Who’s there?

A broken pencil.

A broken pencil who? 

Nevermind. It’s pointless.

Teacher Ms. Schapiro: What did the snail say while riding on the turtle’s back? 

I don’t know.

WHEEEEEEEEEEE!

Junior Levi Kassinove: Knock, knock? 

Who’s there?

To.

To who?

To whom. 

Solitudes of which are dreadful

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By Middle-School Blogger Penny Andreas

PVS Bloggers went in search of a compelling photograph. They were asked to tell the story behind the photograph. To answer, Why does this photograph pull you in? Penny pulled this photo because it made her afraid. To me, it looks like a scary scene out of Severance. For Penny, it’s a jumping-off place from which to discuss phobias.

Blog Advisor Zachik
Photo Source: Luanna Strawbridge at Pixy.org

Imagine yourself walking in this empty hallway. Does anything seem wrong or scary? This photograph, to most people, seems as though this is a regular hallway, with a regular ceiling, and a regular set of walls. For myself, and some other people in the world, this is absolutely terrifying. Though this might sound ridiculous, this is an actual fear, or “phobia.”  This is called “Autophobia.” Autophobia is the fear of being alone, or in solitude. And, no, this is not about relationships. It is about literally being alone in any situation, and being afraid. However, people have even reported having autophobia attacks in crowds, though it is rare. 

What is a phobia?

A phobia is pretty simple, and this word dates back to ancient Greece. “Phobia” comes from the Greek word “Phobos,” which is a Greek god that summons human fear. So, it’s pretty self explanatory; a phobia is what you simply fear. Want to read more about phobias? See what Healthline has to say:

https://www.healthline.com/health/phobia-simple-specific 

How to figure out your phobias and find anecdotes

First, there are so many phobias in this world–from the fear of long words, (Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia) to the fear of holes (Trypophobia), or even something super common such as Claustrophobia, the fear of tight spaces.  

To deal with your phobias, the first thing I would personally do is just walk around town, or around your house. If you come across something that scares you, or makes you freeze up, and makes it hard to breathe, try to find out what that object is. Keep in mind this could literally be anything:  spider, a bird, a tight space, a cliff. Once you know the source of the disturbance, I suggest researching things to help when you are scared. One thing that helps me with my autophobia is simply staying close to something I love: such as my family, my dogs, or even a heavy blanket to comfort me. Of course, do whatever comforts you the most, and what makes you feel a little less scared. 

One small, single blur

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By 7th-Grader Penny Andreas

When I said, “Give us a chapter from the book of your life,” PVS Blogger Penny wrote the story of her first migraine. I’ve only read one other description of a migraine so descriptive and revealing–and that was the famed Joan Didion’s.

Blog Advisor Zachik

It’s not the same as it was. 

I walked into my 1st-grade classroom to the familiar smell of rain and Lysol. The rain boots were lined up beside the cubbies, with colorful backpacks hanging among them. Sitting on the alphabet carpet, I met my friend, Lucia. We both waited patiently for our reading groups to be divided. The teacher, Marissa, walked in. Every day, I was jealous of her hair that reached all the way down her back. She walked over to us, and split up the class; me and Lucia separated. I walked over to the corner of the large classroom, excited to show Marissa my “reading skills.” 

Marissa sat me down, right next to the small window with the chicken painting I loved. I opened my book: The magic treehouse. Marissa told me I could start reading whenever I was ready. I took a sip of water from my small water bottle and slowly turned the colorful cover of the book. On the first page was a small drawing of a tree. But, there was something wrong. There was one small, singular blur blocking the people in the picture. I rubbed my eyes and started to read. The words now came harder to read by the second. I couldn’t see the words; they were blocked by that one singular, small blur. I stopped reading, and I looked up to my teacher. Half of her face was blocked; my eyes somehow refused to show her expression. I started to breathe heavily. I couldn’t see my friends’ faces. I couldn’t see the letters in the book. I couldn’t figure out what was happening. My breathing would not slow down. My heart was beating abnormally fast. I had to place my hand on my chest to try to slow it down. I started to cry, and all I could hear was my loud and heavy pulse. My teacher desperately tried to calm me down. She took me to the hallway; she said she would call my mom to pick me up. 

When she left, my head started to throb with pain, as though it was going to beat with my heart. I tried to make it stop. I held my head in my hands. I tried creating pressure from my hands. As tears created smooth pathways on my face, my legs started to tremble, uncontrollably. It was so much pain, so much confusion, so many things going wrong. Alone, I sat there in the hallway, not able to see, not able to stop trembling, not able to control my body. As I was holding my head; it felt as though my brain was traveling down my face. My head burned, and the pain made me wince and close my eyes. The world around me had stopped; then, blood rushed out my nose. I tried to stand; my legs were weak. I attempted to walk toward the bathroom, not even seeing where I was walking or where I was. Eventually, I made it and stuffed the crusty-musty paper towel up my nose. The nosebleed lasted only a couple of minutes. When I walked out of the bathroom, my mom was there. She carried me to the car. I started to cry harder, I could not even see my mom’s face. She put me in the car seat, and buckled me up. She raced to get me home. The sun shone brightly in my eyes, making them feel sore and hurt. At that moment, my stomach losing control, forced me to throw up. My mother handed me a bag, begging me to not get her car dirty. She frantically turned into our driveway, and, holding me, ran up to my bedroom where she lay me down in bed.

The desert rain

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When I say, “Write a poem,” Penny says, “Done.” She tells me she hasn’t lived in the desert all her life. It must be the deep roots of her family connection because she captures here the miracle of rain in the desert.

Blog Advisor Zachik

By 7th-Grader Penny Andreas

The mountains blocked the sun

From the night that was disguising

The clouds started to come

And the wind started rising

The soft droplets fell

As the pavement darkened

With the sweet smell of rain

The dry sat there still

Thunder stroke

And lightning flashed

The clouds all shook

This empty land

The palm trees swayed

And the streets flooded  

Healing the broken

And the decayed

Save me

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I challenged the blog staff to write a short story. Luke was especially happy about that. Penny took up the challenge with her own fish tale.

Blog Advisor Zachik

A Short Story by Middle-Schooler Penny Andreas

“Welcome! Welcome Ladies and Gentleman to the ‘Great World Circus!’” Thomas W. Ratgrape stood in front of the crowd, feeding off of their applause. His great big smile on his face stood out in the spotlight, and his brightly colored red suit shone in the circus ring. 

“Thank you. Thank you, everyone. No, really, I mean it. Now, first up, we have your one, and only, ‘Dancing Monkey!’” 

The brass music boomed over the speaker. Thomas rushed behind the curtain, his support-staff followers running after him. 

“Sir, you go back on after the monkey.” 

“Sir, sir, your suit is unbuttoning!”

“Sir Your father wants to–”

“JUST SHUT UP!” Thomas yelled. “I DO NOT CARE! JUST GET ME THAT FISH!”

Everyone looked at each other, wondering who should move first. 

“WELL! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? THE FISH ISN’T GOING TO COME BY ITSELF!” 

They all started running again, worried that their master, Thomas, would yell and fire them. Soon enough, the monkey was done dancing, and the crowd was becoming bored. Thomas quickly looked around, desperately looking to see if the fish was there. 

“Gertrude! Gertrude, where is the fish?” Thomas frantically said to Gertrude, who was the janitor of the circus. 

“I dunno,” she said.  

Thomas sighed and quickly started to pace across the maroon carpet. 

“I’ve got it! I’ve got the fish coming throoooooough!”

“Lacey? You were the last person I thought would get the fish. Is it well? Eh, no matter, we have to get it on!”  

Thomas ran out of the curtains and quickly took his spotlight. The music stopped, and a loud drum roll burst out of the speakers. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome the amazing, magnificent ‘Talking Fish!’”

Gertrude placed the giant fish tank onto the scooter, and rolled it out into the circus ring. The fish, Margarine, tried to swim, but her tank was too small. She couldn’t even move. 

“How incredibly rude. What do they even want me to do?” Margarine asked. She looked beyond her dirty, small glass like aquarium, and saw the crowd. Her eyes were blinded by the lights. She refused to look at the crowd and tried to turn her head. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Thomas and his mean, stink-eye glare. He slowly walked over to her. 

“Fish, if you don’t start talking, I will make your life worse than it is.”

He walked away squinting at her. Margarine floated there, speechless. What am I supposed to do? She pushed on the glass, daring to break it, daring an escape. The glass was strong, yet Margarine was stronger. That glass popped out and shattered on the hard cement ground. Water spilled out, creating a tidal wave that carried Margarine across the ground. She frantically tried to swim, hoping she could make it to the clear water pond just outside the door of the tent. She was almost there when Thomas stepped in front of her and picked her up. He apologized to the bored audience and quickly walked backstage. As soon as he was behind the curtain, he threw the fish against the wall into a water tank. 

“HOW DARE YOU EMBARRASS ME IN FRONT OF MY PEOPLE?! MY AUDIENCE?! YOU ARE A DISGRACE! YOU SHOULD BE SORRY FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE! THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES!”

He stormed out of the room, leaving Margarine alone in the dark. She swam to the bottom of the tank, and belly flopped onto the gravel. She longed for her sweet, clean, clear pond that they  polluted in order to capture her. She missed her poor family, swimming alone in the river to which they were transferred. She missed them so dearly. But at that moment, *click*. 

The custodian Gertrude walked through the door and turned on the lights. She took out her mop and bucket of water and started to clean the floor. 

“Hello, Gertrude,” said Margarine.

“AHHHHHHHHH!” Gertrude yelled, dropping her mop. 

“Well, don’t be frightened for goodness sake. I was only being polite.

”Gertrude stared at her in awe. How could the fish be speaking? Was she dreaming? Was she even alive?

“You really speak? How?”

Margarine laughed. 

“I don’t really know. I just started to talk one day. But when the world found out, they captured me, and pulled me into this…this horrible place.”

“Well, I guess we are similar in that way. I wanted to go to college, but I got fired from my job and lost all  my money and had to work at this dump.”

“Perhaps we could someday escape, though that day would be far far away due to the situation here,” Margarine sighed. 

That’s when Gertrude had an idea. They could escape. They could get out of this miserable, terrible, horrible place. 

Gerturde jumped up into the air. “I know how we can escape!”

Margarine was delighted. “How might we do that?”

“Tomorrow night, when you perform for the last time, you can tell the audience how bad Thomas is treating you, and then they will have to all leave, and right then we could leave, too!”

Margarine was thrilled. She was so happy with the thought that she could see her loving family and pond again. That night, she slept for the first time. 

The next day, Margarine woke up with joy, but suddenly it diminished like water on fire. She awoke to everyone running around, yelling, and frantically waving their arms. Thomas was not around surprisingly. At the corner of her eye, she noticed Gertrude standing with her mop. Gertrude met eyes with Margarine, and broke a small smile. 

“WHAT IS ALL THE CHAOS?!” Thomas suddenly walked into the main room. Everybody froze and immediately turned to Lacey. Thomas started to slowly walk across the room. 

“What…is going….on?” snarled Thomas. 

Lacey’s eyes were wide open, and her legs were trembling. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. 

“I-I–I…I LOST THE MONKEY!” Lacey started to cry. She went down on her knees. “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!” 

Thomas looked down at her like a hawk watching its prey from above. He walked silently to the back of the room. 

“Find it. Or else,” Thomas said. He walked out of the room, smoke metaphorically fuming out of his ears. Gertrude rushed over to Margarine. 

“Don’t worry,” whispered Gertrude, “I stole the dancing monkey, and I’m going to replace it with a normal foolish monkey.”

Margarine sighed, worried that the plan wouldn’t work. She swam to the top of the tank and said, “He will have to put me on instead, and then we can escape?”

“Precisely,” smiled Gertrude. She then walked away and went back to her mopping. 

Two hours later, Thomas prepared for the show, for he was on in 5 minutes. 

“Are we prepared? Is everything ready? Where is the monkey?” 

Gertrude pretended to be rushed and threw herself onto the ground, the fake monkey in her hand. “I’ve found it!”

Thomas looked down at her. “Thank you,” he said, and he snatched the monkey out of her hand and walked off. 

Gertrude was thrilled as she got up off of the ground. She was ready to get out of this dump. 

The music started to grow out of the big bass speakers, and the spotlights circled around the circus ring. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome once again to the circus!”

The loud brass music played, which was heard from backstage, where Gertrude and Margarine were desperately waiting to see the magnificent fail of Thomas. 

“First up, I will joyfully present to you, the one, the only…Dancing Monkey!”

The spotlight appeared suddenly on a miniature stage, with the fake monkey on it. The monkey blocked the light with his hands, and ran off the tiny stage to the door and ran out. Thomas stood there speechless, surprised that he had just lost the monkey. His mind quickly turned to the crowd though, and he rushed to take the spotlight. 

“Well, that was unexpected! To keep your interest, I want to show you the magnificent, amazing “Talking Fish!” Thomas said nervously. 

Gertrude pushed Margarine to the center of the dusty stage. Margarine looked out to the crowd, hoping this would work. 

“Hi. My name is Margarine. I am a talking fish. And although many people stare at me in awe when I speak, some people treat me wrong for it. They give me small fish tanks, which smell and are unclean. They also force me to talk and punish me if I don’t. I don’t like the disrespect at all. I find it quite rude. And these people, they are horrible. And I know one person who is like this. Thomas W. Ratgrape.”

The audience gasped when they heard this, and immediately refused to stay in the circus tent any longer. People demanded their money back, and some climbed out of the seats. Soon enough, people were carrying Margarine’s fish tank outside, and placing her in a beautiful pond outside of the circus. Gertrude followed, cheering for her and Margarine’s freedom. 

And they all lived happily ever after. Except Thomas W. Ratgrape.

Eating Healthy

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In answering “How to Live a Healthy Life,” thebirdonfire.org staffers offer a few health hacks. Penny suggests we (sadly) put down the sour-cream-and-onion chips and pick up an apple or two.

By Penny Andreas, 7th grader

Fries, burgers, pizza, ice cream–these foods are so delicious, but there is one bad side to them….They are terrible for your health. Though they are tasty and hard to resist, it’s important to know what happens when you eat unhealthy foods. 

Healthy Diets

To be healthy, you don’t need to be skin-and-bone thin or be on a Keto diet. It just means getting the right nutrients for your body. Since bodies are constantly working, it really is important that you pay attention to what you eat. Harmful foods that have high sodium can give you intense headaches, migraines, acne, and more. Instead of eating junk all day, think of eating two or three servings of “growing food.” Growing food is literally things that have nutrients you need to survive–such as vitamins and minerals. 

Why is it Important to Eat Well?

Eating healthy is important because certain foods make natural “shields” to other diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Eating well also provides a good boost to life. Technically, you can live longer when healthy, and you also can be more active. Not only does eating healthy make you feel good physically, it also makes you feel good mentally. Your brain naturally releases happy hormones, but it can be quickly altered by junkie foods. 

Things to Eat

When I get home from school, most of the time I’m very hungry, and I reach for the chips and candy. Thanks to my mom, I know now that there are much better options to eat. For example, nuts and granola are way more nutritious than the good ol’ sour-cream-and-onion chips. For breakfast, yogurt, granola, and fruit are delicious AND nutritious. When you’re eating a sandwich for lunch, a good side is some fruit and popcorn. Popcorn is actually good for you, just minus the extra butter, salt, and additional candy. 

healthline.com

As you can see, eating healthy is a natural requirement of life, and it is important to watch what goes in your body. This doesn’t mean you have to be vegan or what not; it just means don’t eat junk food your whole life. An apple a day, really does keep the doctor away. 

What the flute?

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By 7th-Grader Penny Andreas

I’ve come to learn our PVS bloggers are skilled in surprising arenas: fencing, appearing to listen without truly listening (teachers and parents, take note), winning at Monopoly always. Penny, we come to find out, has been playing the flute for years. She shares with us the history and basics of making beautiful sounds come out of this reedy instrument.

Blog Advisor Zachik

Flutes are one of the earliest known instruments. There is record of them back in Germany over 35,000 years ago. Many cultures and traditions have their own style and version of flute playing. One of the oldest traditional flutes is the Japanese Shakuhachi.

The Shakuhachi

A Shakuhachi is a very ancient Japanese and Chinese flute. It is a wide, end-blown flute that is made out of madake bamboo with five finger holes. The bamboo flute was made in Japan in the 16th century, and it was called Fuke Shakuhachi. It was used often when meditating. Not many people play the Shakuhachi nowadays, but there are many soundtracks and songs that incorporate this peaceful flute. Try listening to Shakuhachi Japanese Bamboo Flute Meditation & Relaxation Music.

Western Concert Flute

This flute is very well known in places like the U.S. It is usually referred to simply as “the flute.” Western Concert Flutes are very common and are used as beginning instruments for bands. These flutes are mainly made out of metal, but really expensive ones can be gold or copper. The Western Concert Flute is again a very old flute. Did you know that George Washington, James Madison, and Leonardo da Vinci played the flute? (earlylightmusic.weebly)

I have been playing the flute for two years now. I started when I was 10, joining my school band. About three months in, I started to take lessons. My teacher taught me so many “flute hacks” and helped me become confident with my flute playing and performing. I was very self-conscious about my performance, until I did my first one. Hearing the trombones and all of the other instruments behind me was thrilling, and playing along, hearing the notes in symphony, was beautiful. (The celebration at the end was exciting, too.) 

Penny Andreas

Beginner Basics

    Now that you know at least some background on the flute, these are the first things to know when you are playing the flute. The flute can be very complicated. Playing the flute relies on moving your hands without seeing them. Want to play the flute? Make sure you have a lot of time because flute playing can be hard to master and learn.

The Three Main Parts

    One important thing about playing is setting up. The common flute has three parts: the head, the body, and the bottom. The head is obviously at the top, the body in the middle, and the bottom at the bottom. You can simply put these pieces together by just connecting them through the holes.

quora.com

Position

    Most people think that there is no wrong way to handle the flute. This is wrong. There is a special order to place your hands so you can reach all of the finger holes to create different notes. You always want your left hand holding the upper body, and facing behind you. Your right hand however will hold the lower part of the body AND the bottom. This hand should be facing in front of you. If you are sitting or standing while playing,  make sure that your back is straight. If you are slouching, it can affect your breathing and will make playing much harder.

Making a Sound

    When you first get your flute, trust me, you will automatically want to make noise. To be able to do this, you will need to know the key parts to making beautiful noise. Number one is your embouchure. This fancy word embouchure actually just means your mouth shape. This is very important because you simply can’t make a sound by just making a random circle shape with your mouth. A simple way to describe your embouchure is making your mouth look like you are about to whistle. Then slightly curve the ends of your mouth. This is what an embouchure for the flute should look like.

drcatesflutetips.wordpress.com

* * * * *

    Now that you get the basic idea of flute playing, I recommend taking lessons or watching YouTube tutorials. For taking lessons, I would choose Amanda Barro. Even though she is in Idaho, she is a great teacher. You can work with her via Zoom or Facetime. For YouTube videos, you could watch basically anyone; they should all help you. A good site to start with is, Dr. Selfridge’s Flute Tutorials @ drselfridgemusic.com. I know flute playing requires a lot to take in, but it is definitely worth it. Playing the flute can calm you and is a great subject for bragging!

History Of The Cahuilla

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I asked the Blog Staff to look into a country or culture of interest, to take us there, let us experience something of daily life that might not be our own. Penny takes us home. And, home for Penny and her ancestors is the Coachella Valley. If you’ve been hiking in the canyons to the south of Palm Springs, you may have visited Penny’s own “Andreas” Canyon.

Blog Advisor Zachik

By 7th-Grader Penny Andreas

The Coachella Valley has been around for quite awhile, along with its native tribes and cultures. One tribe specifically, the band of the Cahuilla Indians, has called the desert home for generations. I am native, and it’s important to keep our stories alive, along with our traditions. The Cahuilla natives have been around for thousands of years, but there are many different versions of how they ended up in the Andreas Canyon. One of them is told by Alejo Patencio, a tribal spiritual leader. It begins with two brothers Mukat and Temayawut, who were born by a swirling mass of color when the world started. At their birth, Mukat and Temayawut created all of the oceans, mountains, and the sky. 

Then, the two brothers made the first people. Mukat chose to create humans by carving black mud and carefully sculpting. Temayawut decided to use white mud, and hastily carve them. When they were both done, compared to Mukat’s, Temayawut’s looked  unrefined and rushed. After arguing about whose people were better, Temayawut decided to leave Mukat. So overall, Mukat is said to be the creator of the Cahuilla. This lesson and overall beginning shows that it is better to take time and not rush things. 

Bird Singing And Dancing

One thing that is extremely important in this tribe is its ceremonial Bird singing. Bird singing often tells the story of lessons that were learned about life, such as the origin and migration. Bird singers, when performing, will always have an instrument called a rattle. The Cahuilla bird singers have been using rattles for thousands of years, even before the Europeans came. Just as your fingerprint is yours individually, that’s what a rattle is like. Each one is completely different from the others. However, every rattle is made the same. The holder must pick out a squash or gourd from a vine, and then boil it in water for 20 minutes, and it is often filled with pebbles to keep the gourd or squash from floating above the water. After it has become hard and completely dried out, they fill it with seeds of spirit. The seeds come from places you love and value. For instance, my favorite place is Andreas canyon. (If I was a bird singer, I might put palm-tree seeds in my rattle.) From the seeds is where you get the steady beat of the rattle. When men tend to always sing, the women dance. Every bird dancer has their own bird dancing dress. They choose patterns and colors they think reflect themselves.

These are a few examples of bird dresses (takookmedia.com).

The Cahuilla Social System

I’ve grown up with Cahuilla teachings. To understand clearly the structure of the Cahuilla social system, I suggest you visit the Agua Calienta Band of Cahuilla Indians website. I’ve borrowed the following information from aguacaliente.org.

Moieties

The Cahuilla are divided into two groups known as Wildcat (tukat) and Coyote (Isil). These Moieties, based on native blood percentage, are believed to originate from when the Cahuilla first started, which guided marriage rules among people. Only one group can marry another member from their group.

Clans

Within each Moiety, the Cahuilla were set into clans, and it wasn’t until the 19th century when they started to work together. The present-day Agua Caliente is now made up of the three clans: Kauisik, Panik, and Wanakik. 

Lineages

Lineages are made up of extended families inside a clan, with a man leading each household. Every lineage had its own food gathering areas and village. 

Every culture in the world is important, and every culture has its own story. Every story even has its own lesson. I think it’s very important to share these stories and spread culture. I encourage you to spread your stories with the world!