It is 2014 for Pete's sake.

   On the highway between Shiprock, New Mexico and Tuba City, Arizona my Ford F250 rumbled across Navajo country. It is the heart of the reservation and about 25 miles east of Kayenta I stopped to pick up a hitchhiker. He is standing by the highway in the absolute middle of nowhere, no kind of structure in sight anywhere, the wind is blowing, it is January and he looks very cold. I have no idea how cold it was because my pick up is plain Jane, no frills, and knowing the temp would be extra.

 His name is Luke. He was on his way to Monument Valley where he lives. Today he was hoping to find out why his 85 Ford pick up won't run. He was on his way back from delivering his truck that did run to his mother. He said he gave it to her as a gift.
 
We had a good conversation. After I finally got him to talking he told me about his family. He is born to the Folding Arms Clan of the Navajo nation and  to the Many Goats Clan. The first is his mother's clan the second his Father's. His 2 grandfather's clans are the Mexican Clan and the Big Water Clan. I find that fascinating.
 
   I let Luke out at the McDonalds in Kayenta. Not 100 yards further down the highway I picked up Donald. Donald was an older Navajo, probably close to my age. He was only going 9 miles, and unlike most Navajos I know he talked the whole 10 minutes. He was pretty excited. He showed me where they were working in a water line from Kayenta toward the west. He said it would go close enough to his house that they would have running water by summer, and maybe sometime in 2015 they would get electric service.

  2014, and they still live like it was 1914. Made me feel pretty small that Jen and I thought we were really toughing it out these last 18 months living in a RV. We did have running water and electricity.

  I am drawn to the Navajo people. I enjoy listening to their stories. Luke is a 7th day Adventist. I asked him if was a vegetarian. His reply, "Nope, I still eat mutton." I didn't tell him one of my life long ambitions, ever since my first taste of Mutton stew back in the 60's is to never let the meat of the sheep pass my lips again.

  As he was getting out of the truck I asked Donald if his wife was excited to be getting water. He looked at me with a wide grin and said, "we are all pretty excited about it."