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Say Goodbye to Gert - A Western Odyssey

Gertie has packed up her old pickup truck, “Pattycake,” and is leaving her husband and their Oregon cattle ranch behind. She doesn’t quite know where she’s going or where she’ll end up, but she bravely sets off, determined to carve out a better life for herself.

What begins as a need to escape a bad marriage turns into an emotional road trip in which Gertie will have to face the secrets of her past and make amends with the people who really matter to her. Set in the western and southwestern United States, Say Goodbye to Gert is a study of the strength and courage of a hardworking woman whose life has never been easy. Will she finally find the happiness she longs for? Or will her colorful past get in the way?

"It is Pendleton Woolen Mills, White Buffalo blanket," Gertie said, as her hand reached out and she lightly felt the soft wool with her finger tips.

"There is a legend about it, about the little white baby buffalo being a messiah to the Native Americans. They believe the white buffalo came as a beautiful young women to two young Lakota Souix hunters. She spoke to them and one acted lustful, so she turned him to stone." Gertie gave Cleave a pointed look before she continued. "The Indian maiden then instructed the other hunter to return to his tribe and tell them to prepare for her arrival in three days. When she came she told the Indians sacred ceromonies of ways to improve their lives. She brought a sacred pipe that is still kept by the Lakota in the Black Hills." Gertie's voice trailed away as if her thoughts were anywhere but in this company.

"That is a nice little story, Gert, and you told it well." Pa bowed his head to her a bit.

"Who is it for, Mother?" He asked pointedly.

Gertie felt suddenly out of place, her hair windblown, clothing rumpled, and smelling of horses. She shot Pa a look that said, Get me out of here.

Meanwhile, Gina looked demurely at the carpet and slid her slipper back and forth giving her lithe body a gently little sway.

Mother Lawson looked around at all the faces and finally blurted out, "Why I just hadn't thought about that, Pa. It was such a lovely thing I just couldn't pass it up." Pa took the colorful blanket from Cleave and rolled it into a fluffy ball. He tossed it gently into Gertie's arms.

"Well then it's for Linda." Pa said softly to them all.

While her mouth was still gaping in surprise, Pa ushered Gertie from the room with her arms clutched tightly around the blanket.

"You'll want to say goodbye to Gert." he said over his shoulder. "She's on her way to Denver to see her aunt." As he helped Gertie out the door he said, "Hope you have room for a little more baggage. Now you take care." With a wink Pa turned back to face his irate family.