A little history is in order here.

First, the revered Pheasant Headdress originally came to me by way of Don "Weave" Weaver, who recognized in me the requisite awe and appreciation of the majesty of what the "A-wap-uh-ho-ho" Indians had created. So I was second in line to carry the awesome responsibility of caring for the Pheasant Headdress.

As you can tell by the decor, David and Kathleen came to visit in the early years of our old house in Grass Valley, so I'd guess it was the very early '80s. At that time, I had been caretaker for the headdress for 5 or 6 years. It was beginning to take its toll on me, and the family was beginning to notice the emotional strain I was under. As fate would have it, the visit from David and Kathleen coincided with that "down" period.

Like a true friend and man who immersed himself in many things, including obscure tribes of the central valley and coast range, Dave was my first and most logical choice as the person upon whom to bestow the honor of carrying on the tradition and responsibility for "its" care.

David was, as is made clear in the photos, more than up to the task. He accepted gladly as Kathleen placed the Headdress, with appropriate reverence, upon his head. And for some time he carried the tradition nobly until that fateful day when Ruffy (the dog) had his way with the shrine, and the rest is history.

Little known "fact": Within hours of Ruffy's rampage, the last remaining member of the legendary "A-wap-uh-ho-ho" tribe passed from this mortal coil. Coincidence? I think not.

-M.R.S.