Saturday, March 29, 2014

Plunge into Health

Wow, yes we do! We have warm water during all seasons. Our community is most fortunate in that we have a pool filled with natural flowing mineral waters open year-round. It is named Evans Plunge and it attracts tourists world wide since it is the largest mineral water pool in the United States.

My husband and I use the water three times a week. Some of our time is spent chatting with tourists and locals, especially opportune while using the steam room, hot tubs or sauna. This week I met a woman from Colorado who brought her family to Hot Springs on their spring break. During their stay in our town they rented a cabin, spent one day at the Plunge, had eaten at restaurants, walked our lovely river walk through town, stopped at local shops, visited the Mammoth Site, the Wild Horse Sanctuary, and were considering a visit to Wounded Knee on the nearby Pine Ridge reservation.

No one can argue with me about the value of the Plunge to the entire community. When folks say to me that they will not go to the Plunge because the city bought it, my answer to them is, "If you boycott the Plunge you are hurting every business in our community which pay taxes, their employees and spread their money throughout Hot Springs.. If you love this town and want it to thrive, you will use the Plunge or bring your guests to the Plunge, volunteer at the Plunge or donate your ideas and talents and help Hot Springs be all it can be. Our town now owns the Plunge with the use of the water, more precious than gold. It is a treasure that most communities can only dream of owning, developing and supporting. If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem and have no right to complain. Become a "Plunger" in any way that you can. Be proud of our natural, healing springs and plunge into health! If you do not take care of your health, who will?

Sunday, March 23, 2014

The Path Chosen

Years ago, after the fall of the Wall,  I was teaching English in Poland. While visiting Warsaw, I met an American businessman who was looking at Poland as a financial opportunity for his company. During the day we quickly became acquainted, as often happens between two people in a foreign country. Before we parted company he told me that he thought I was  making a huge mistake to choose the Black Hills for retirement.

"You will get bored and miss the excitement of the Cities. I hope you and your husband change your minds. What will you do with your time? You have much to offer. Don't throw it away in the boonies."

Now and then I remember this brief encounter with this thoughtful, intelligent man from Chicago. The times I remember him are when I find myself deeply involved in the many issues surrounding a small community in the Black Hills of South Dakota. When I take the time for myself in order to re-energize my batteries, I think back to my life in the Cities. I was involved, of course, but not nearly as much as I find myself in this "fly-over zone" of our country.

If you want to remain incognito, invisible to the outside world, the best place is in the Cities. It is far simpler in retirement to stay to oneself, enjoy hobbies and friends when you are surrounded by the masses.

Here, in the small town of Sandstone buildings, clean air, pure water, few mosquitoes, milder winters and far sunnier days than back in Minnesota, I have become more passionate about issues on my back doorstep. They are harder to ignore than "stuff happening out there."

I do wish I could run into my short-term friend from Chicago. I may not have as many restaurants, theatre and events to occupy my time, but I am....I repeat....I am never bored and I never feel as if  my life is wasted. Becoming involved locally and knowing that I may have some small impact, has filled my life far more than my love for the theatre and extraordinary restaurants.

The three books I have written about this area and the folks who live here has enriched my life far more than the writings I probably would have produced back in the Twin Cities. I say probably because I will never know because I have chosen this path, the "one least chosen" and rejected my former life of relative invisibility among the multitudes.

If you ever read this, old friend, know that I am alive and thriving in this wonderful place you call "the boonies".

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Back Stabbing our Veterans

It is a strange world. I have belonged to it for many years and still have trouble believing what is occurring, especially in the political arena.

I received an email this week regarding my book Reveille in Hot Springs. The reader has just finished reading it....carefully and thoughtfully... and sent along his insights.  One of his comments reads, "I congratulate you on the effort expended to compile and render genuine for the reader the moving content of authentic voices, suffering voices, abandoned voices, hidden voices...the narrow, the shriveled, the displaced. A grateful nation does not always find its expression in the actions of an expedient government."

In yet another sentence the author writes, "But expediency is the lifeblood of government. I am not optimistic."

My mind wrapped around his choice of words....expedient government....expediency....Such an interesting and insightful choice of words in describing our government. It always seems that entities such as our government look for the utilitarian, profitable solutions, but not necessarily the most moral. The word expedient also implies opportunistic and self-serving.

Is the VA in DC concerned with themselves or their veterans who served them? Their decision to alter the way they classify historic properties and remove most of them from the historical register makes you wonder.Is it yet another attempt, in the name of "expediency" to close a VA that is most helpful in their treatment of veterans with PTSD and other traumas associated with life in the military. Is their slow bleed of services and personnel an invisible war to gradually drain the very soul of one of the best VA facilities in our country? Why do they insist on following a plan that will be more expensive to the taxpayers? Why do they treat veterans as expendable? Why are they harassing our veterans who have been vocal against their decision to shut us down? Looking into their medical records? I mean, really, how low can they stoop? I can't help but compare all of this to the 3rd grade bullies who threaten and intimidate the smaller kids. Is it really to get their way, or is it to make themselves feel powerful?

My questions for you is, "Who stands to profit from this far-reaching, painful decision?

Play around with the word "expedient" and see what conclusion you reach.

Monday, March 3, 2014

OPEN FOR BUSINESS!

It has been a cold, bleak winter. A popular restaurant closed and McDonald's backed out of building here. But today...at 5:30 this morning... our favorite restaurant re-opened. (Favorite because it is near-by and serves breakfasts, our favorite meal.)

It is open seven days a week, three meals a day, and it opens at 5:30! All of this was great news for us, and to top it off, it includes on the menu, in a noticeable box, a breakfast with a dollar donation going to Save Our VA! If you go there notice the inexpensive price for that breakfast.

To add a cherry to the topping of all the rest, it serves lunch with an all-you-can-eat salad bar. The only problem is that I love to eat out for breakfast, but I am also partial to salad bars. I guess we will have to split our time between the two meals.

The owners are gracious and aim to please the locals. Tourists will be welcome, of course, but the focus is on those of us who brave out the winter in our southern Black Hills. I couldn't believe the number of patrons who came in while we were there. We knew most of them and tarried after our meal for another hour or so. There has been no grand opening...only an open sign. What a welcome sign! Welcome to the new owners....new to our community....but aware of the issues that meld and divide us. We are feisty for sure and this restaurant will be another addition as a gathering place for strategizing, preparing and plotting our next moves for our continual issues.

Open, open. open,  and welcome to our midst!

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Comparison Shopping

Bob and I stopped in at the city-run aquatic center in Rapid City. We heard rave reviews about it and decided to see what all the fuss was about. The following are my observations.

It was a lovely facility with many amenities for the citizens of the area. Did I drool or think "If only...?" There were a few things I would like to see in our city-run Plunge in Hot Springs, but for the most part I went back to our health club satisfied....more than satisfied with what our small community offered for us.

Our locker rooms are open and inviting. In Rapid I felt claustrophobic as I walked through the narrow aisles. The steam room was separate from the men's, with steam filled with city chlorine water.The exercise room has less equipment than ours. As I walked into the pool area I did admire their "water walk" and large hot tub, but none of that could compare to our natural, mineral spring waters flowing constantly, washing out the chlorine that filled their pool.

Our city does need to make many improvements to our Evans Plunge. I know many would welcome the less expensive rates of the swim center in Rapid City. It will take Hot Springs some time and money since the Plunge has been city-owned for less than a year, but as I worked out in our invigorating mineral water and later as I relaxed and chatted with men and women in the steam room and warmed in the sauna, I knew most vividly that what we have is beyond compare  for those of us who want healthy water and healing heat and conversation in a health club separate from the clamor of the pool. How many people can enjoy all of this, close to home, without fighting traffic and a lengthy drive?

There are times when comparing can bring about needed improvements. Other times it may bring envy. Then again it may bring gratitude for what we have and what we are about to have. For me, I prefer to live in the gratitude of the now with some hope for the future. Gratitude carries joy and anticipation can bring spice to the moment. And this moment, right now, is all we ever have.
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