Would You Look at That!

We moved into town after the wildfire and discovered that just running around this small community for daily this and thats was using more gas than we anticipated. Now gas is not getting cheaper anytime soon so Bob searched around for an inexpensive used electric car. (Bob does not believe in buying new if he can repair a second-hand anything, and he can repair almost anything.)

The "blue bomber" arrived, somewhat worse for wear, but, as always, a challenge for my husband. A manual did not come with it, but after about a week of his tinkering with the issues, we are driving short spurts around the neighborhood.

What fun! It is getting so much attention, and questions. I love seeing so many individuals really interested in saving on gas and the environment. Oh, I suppose saving money is another incentive.

We live in an ideal location for using this gas-less form of transportation. It can travel about 30 miles on one charge and we have numerous days of sun for recharging with solar. It is an interesting experiment and we will see how it works out, but for now, the stares, comments and questions have added another interesting dimension to our lives. I am always open to that!

A Victory for our Veterans

We sat side by side in the hot tub. "I would come here more often if I could afford it," he said to me. "I am in the Dom for six months and love to relax here and mix in with regular people. It is good to get away for a bit from the struggles and turmoil of recovery."

Ouch, those words hurt when I first heard them, but it was true! Mingled in with all of the cut-backs by the VA in Hot Springs was one that went almost unnoticed by most. It was not a closure of surgery, the laundry, the greenhouse, the library or many beds in the domiciliary that have occurred,  but it was a cut that did have an impact on many receiving treatment for emotional issues in the "Dom".

Last year the VA stopped the practice of allowing veterans in treatment free access to the use of the facilities at our Evans Plunge, which includes exercise equipment, the pool filled with natural spring mineral waters, and the soothing effects of the health club hot tubs, sauna and steam room.

The city of Hot Springs used to fund half of the expenses and the VA funded the other half. Since the VA stopped paying, a few veterans who could afford the fee would use the Plunge, but many could not afford the entry price. Hot Springs is not the Veterans Town in name only. The city purchased the Plunge last summer and could offer a solution. Starting this month veterans in the treatment program at the Dom can use the health club for a nominal fee of $2.00. The VA may have made another cut to our veterans, but the city of Hot Springs made the decision that  our health club is an important part in the recovery of those suffering from PTSD, substance abuse, brain trauma or other emotional issues. They are welcome at our Plunge along with the locals who use the Plunge regularly as part of their health regime.

We are a community of healing, we honor veterans and in this latest quiet gesture we are saying, "Welcome to our town, welcome to our health club, welcome to another assist to your recovery."

Now I can relax in the health club and be assured that the veterans can, and do, make use of what I often so casually take for granted. I join them in a lifetime of healing.

The Best Part and the Worst Part

We met a medical professional who was recently employed in Hot Springs. He had moved from the east coast and was learning who we were, what we were and all the goings on in this town. I told him about the question we were frequently asked by our friends when we moved here from the Cities. "What is the best part of living in a small community?" And, "What is the worst part of living in a rural area?"

Our answers were always the same, "The best part is that everybody knows you. The worst part is that everybody knows you."

The newcomer laughed and said he knew exactly what I meant. He had flown to Rapid City and purchased a vehicle for his drive to work in Hot Springs. On his first day at work he was stopped by the highway patrol and got a ticket for speeding. That very same day some woman came to the counter and said, "I saw you get stopped by the police today."

We both enjoyed his story with all that it implied. This is small-town living at its best, or worst, however you look at it.

Over the years of living here I have come to realize that the best part outweighs the worst. Rumors spread. Stories become enlarged and twisted, but, in the end, the feeling of others knowing who I am and, for the most part, being genuinely concerned and interested in that part of "who I am", is more enriching than being faceless in a crowd of people. Sure, there are misunderstandings and misinterpretations of motives, but for those who really care, there are opportunities to ask me face-to-face about the rumors. If they don't ask, then they remain less informed, less wise and sheltered by their ignorance. That is their loss, not mine. As for me, I continue on my journey through this life, trying to remain open to all challenges that flow by.

One thing is for certain, in a small community there are many more of these opportunities. It is a matter of choosing which ones and at what time. Life is full and I feel blessed. I wish the same for the newest arrival to our town.

Tiny Steps to Reconciliation

For a brief time we faced one another in the steam room at the Plunge. Through the mist we shared our thoughts. She was angry and set against the "white man."

"We will not forget or accept your conquest. No one owns this water. The water comes from Mother Earth and is for everyone," she said angrily.

"Now that the city owns the Plunge and has the use of the water, it belongs to all of us. It is not longer in private hands so you and I and everyone have a right to the use of this water", I replied. "I would like to see an elder from Pine Ridge bless this water as a sign that all of us together share this water."

"No matter", she answered sharply. "It will make no difference. We will not forget how you took this land and now say that you own it and the water."

I felt the strength of her anger after years of her people being betrayed and losing their culture and way of life through the "eminent domain" belief of one race over another. Her ancestors, and herself, had lost their land, their language and their spirituality. Her feelings of rage were in sharp contrast from others of her Sioux ancestry who had achieved forgiveness in spite of the past injuries. I had met several in that steam room who reached out to me in love and gentleness. I remembered them and tried to hold their level of peace while feeling her anger bombarding me at that time in that place.

"My hope is for us to accept what we have now and cannot change and move on together toward a shared understanding and greater knowledge of one another as a people. Perhaps in that way we will create some change."

"Well", she acknowledged, "I have lived in Hot Springs for a long time and it is the least racist town in the Black Hills."

"I take that as a compliment. Let us start from there."  I did appreciate her one gesture of acceptance that we have made progress. I know well of the past history of the extreme racism prevalent in this area. I know that everywhere in everyplace prejudice and hostility still exists. But we are taking steps, little by little, toward understanding one another and through that understanding, reaching forgiveness.

So, we are the "least racist" community. I take that as a meaningful gesture we have achieved some wisdom. One little step and then another, can add up to a powerful amount of forgiveness in time.