Every one in Hopiland (Arizona) knew that Titus was the greatest farmer of all the Hopi. To be a great farmer (no irrigation or any artificial applications are used), is to be a great Hopi. As the Hopi say, "The teachings are in the corn". Titus was also a priest and steward of the Snake Kiva. The split among the Hopi, caused by US intervention into the traditional way of life, came to a climax at the mother village Oraibi, in 1906. 

The ones left holding on to the original covenant with the Creator were named 'hostiles'. The ones who were siding with the US were named the 'friendlies'. The 'hostiles' made themselves a village named Hotevilla. But, the US intervention also came to Hotevilla. 

Although there was a political division, the ceremonies continued in union. As a microcosm of the world, the people of Hotevilla managed to 'walk both moccasins' to maintain the 'balancing act'. On one day Titus drove with his tractor on the highway. A 'friendly' came along and hit the tractor, which made the heavy machine land on Titus. His body was badly crushed and it left him in a coma for a month at the Tuba City hospital. 

Titus was all 'hooked up' to a life-support machine to keep him alive. Then, a lightning bolt hit the electric system...and the life-support system stopped. It took some seconds for the emergency system to kick in. As the electricity came back...Titus opened his eyes and smiled! This is the story of Titus, of what happened to him from the moment the lightning struck until the emergency system worked again. 

Titus suddenly went with lightning speed through the universe and met with Great Spirits. Then he came back with 'instructions'. Since then regular visits were made. Often Titus would say "I had a meeting with the Creator" and then he gave me some advice and always mentioned "The rest I cannot tell you". 

Grandfather remained handicapped and appeared to some as 'not being present'. Often I could see the humour in his eyes when the people saw him as such. Titus was a most humble teacher who truly understood the meaning of the Hopi saying, "The teachings are in the corn" (maize). 

One day Titus found himself again at the Tuba City hospital. He was rushed to the emergency room with pneumonia. Just as I was about to leave from Phoenix (AZ) a call came through from Titus' daughter Rena. "Gua (Grandfather) is in the hospital - can you come". Three hours later I arrived. The doctor and nurses wouldn't allow me to see Titus, but I insisted and finally they gave in. 

Again Titus was in a coma. I sat next to Titus and as I touched him he opened his eyes and looked deeply into mine. At that moment there was a deep recognition. Something of the 'unfinished past' that needed to be worked on. How little I knew then and how much more I know now! For the next seven days I stayed with Titus in the Flagstaff hospital room and against all hospital regulations I managed to feed him from out of my car where the food was prepared on a gas burner. 

On the fourth day Titus told me to go to the Sunset Crater and pray. Here I picked up a lava rock with a lung pattern image. The next day Titus began to walk and could manage to use the toilet facility. The doctors were amazed. Then the medical decision was made that Gua (Grandfather) could go home...with the stipulation that he must be on the oxygen machine for the rest of his life. 

The oxygen tank got delivered to be returned a week later, unused. This is the story of how I came to be adopted by Titus Qomayumptewa, an episode which bonded our souls forever.