‘Raise Your Voice’ Archives
Skunk and Racoon
By Peter Molenaar It is now forty years since I held title to 16 acres near Lake Milac. Many of us had chosen to go “back to the land”, in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. We all had our share of sublime moments, but survival became an issue for most of us. Was it the full moon and stars which heightened awareness as he walked the dead end gravel road to “the farm” that night? Bloop, bloop, bloop, the sound echoed from the flooded culvert below. What the ”¦ the fight or flight response was intense but instantly suppressed as Skunk emerged and approached directly. The young achieved enlightenment while she sniffed his feet. Many moons later, while sitting upon a beach in Powderhorn Park, he was visited by Racoon. The warm breath touched the calves of his legs lightly beneath. Serenity and wisdom prevailed. Yet two Native youth came forth to issue stern warning against such composure. Ironic? (more…)
Hip Replacement Time
By Peter Molenaar Ever have trouble engaging the medical system in this country? Try growing up in a medical family as I did. It was my father who examined all the private parts”¦mine as well as those of all my classmates. It followed that for years I returned to Cannon Falls for the free service, but did so only when the course of household remedy proved to be inadequate. It was just within the past year that I entered one of the local clinics to find a primary physician outside my family. Although it was a painful left hip which demanded attention, I would submit to a gamut of tests and probes. Cholesterol “somewhat elevated”, thyroid “needs help”, prostate “no problem”. As for the hip, x-rays revealed lost cartilage, the left hip being bone on bone. They call it arthritis. Turns out you get only so much cartilage to begin with. Wear it out and the deal is done. Moving on”¦ (more…)
It Ain”'t Easy Being”¦
By Peter Molenaar Just as the “Raise Your Voice” column appears once a month inside the back cover of “The Alley” so does Ricey Wild”'s “It Ain”'t Easy Being Indian” appear monthly in “The Circle”. Both columns should be regularly read. Admittedly though, for insightful truths elevated to the level of a belly laugh, Ricey is the one. In the April issue, the after-life is pondered via her childhood encounter with an evangelistic revival. She wryly states: “Until then I didn”'t know I was supposed to want eternal life”¦at the time mine was okay except for school and chores.” She goes on: “If I only knew then what I know now! GRRR! I could have been so mean, bad”¦freely hated, had B2 bombers full of cold cash, shoes and Ferraris to crash, and still in the end hang out in Heaven. Because I was saved! Yet, regarding the “straight and narrow”, Ricey says: “It is my [...]
