He was persistent with meeting and inviting me to his house to play music. Little did I realize I had to teach music to him. His fingers were too big to play the mandolin well. They lived way out of town so I had to hitch to visit them. He and Peanut, his common law wife, would invite many people to this rental.
He wanted to learn bluegrass on the mandolin. I tried to teach him the basics with this instrument but his unskilled fat fingers only made for frustration. Michael was an ex junkie.
The psychological torture was apparent since they were living the alternative lifestyle. The landlord would show up with a grim reaper scythe as a reminder to us all that seasonal life was about to be harvested. This is a popular topic in the Bible Belt region of America. Rural people do such a thing as a way to control their world using visual props. All we could do was look away from the obvious display of persecution.
The psychological torture was apparent since they were living the alternative lifestyle. The landlord would show up with a grim reaper scythe as a reminder to us all that seasonal life was about to be harvested. This is a popular topic in the Bible Belt region of America. Rural people do such a thing as a way to control their world using visual props. All we could do was look away from the obvious display of persecution.
Nevertheless, despite his shortcomings, he became a recurring personality in those days since we were both from New Orleans. He told me the Rainbow Gathering was happening in Arkansas that year.
I went to be with these people that gathered each year somewhere in the US. Homelessness finally had a home.
The Buffalo River Rainbow Gathering of the Tribes on July 4th that year was a unique experience. Since my studies at that time was social work, I thought seeing people in a group situation would elucidate me. Just what is the driving force for getting together? Survival is the driving factor. Simple, elegant survival is the reason these folks try to stay together. This the same reason Native Americans stay close.
As I walked down the road to the site, I met a young woman who was carrying the heavy end of a tepee pole. The womanly curve was the perfect notch to carry this burden. She pulled up her shirt and showed me the gaping staph infection that had been growing for sometime. Staph is difficult to get rid of and without antibiotics it is nearly impossible. I told of my fight with the staph. She could not bring herself to go to a doctor for the prescription in order to get needed medication.
She told me how she was treating it by using turmeric. Even if she builds resistance, she will always have staph in her blood. Penicillin is God's gift to mankind. Never forget that.
The Rainbows hold a daily Council Circle each day to discuss the direction the Gathering. The type of workshops being held at the festival are given at this circular meeting. Everyone is standing. A staff is passed giving the holder a chance to speak. No one may interrupt this presentation. That way no arguments break out. There is a time limit of sorts. Boring topics are ignored. Immediate needs are addressed immediately. People are free to come and go as they wish.
One day, someone with a growing family presented me with a small dog to be cared for. His name was Brownie. He was super intelligent and a very happy, obedient dog of 13" in height. I loved that little dog. I was forced back to New Orleans and had to leave him with someone from California. I should have known they would not take care of this animal. They put him on a stake without shelter that winter. The poor thing froze solid one cold night. I came back to nothing again in Arkansas. I almost froze to death on the road spending a freezing moonlit night somewhere in Mississippi. That night I could make out the scurrying armadillos in the moonlight.
Another night in Mississippi, a longhair was leaving Denny's restaurant. The white power KKK boys followed him out to his car and gave chase as he drove off. I can only imagine what happened.
The Rainbows hold a daily Council Circle each day to discuss the direction the Gathering. The type of workshops being held at the festival are given at this circular meeting. Everyone is standing. A staff is passed giving the holder a chance to speak. No one may interrupt this presentation. That way no arguments break out. There is a time limit of sorts. Boring topics are ignored. Immediate needs are addressed immediately. People are free to come and go as they wish.
One day, someone with a growing family presented me with a small dog to be cared for. His name was Brownie. He was super intelligent and a very happy, obedient dog of 13" in height. I loved that little dog. I was forced back to New Orleans and had to leave him with someone from California. I should have known they would not take care of this animal. They put him on a stake without shelter that winter. The poor thing froze solid one cold night. I came back to nothing again in Arkansas. I almost froze to death on the road spending a freezing moonlit night somewhere in Mississippi. That night I could make out the scurrying armadillos in the moonlight.
Another night in Mississippi, a longhair was leaving Denny's restaurant. The white power KKK boys followed him out to his car and gave chase as he drove off. I can only imagine what happened.
No cell phones then so I could not help him. This was how it was in Mississippi during the 60's and 70's. There was no tolerance for different opinions. If you expressed a difference either by looks or speech you were instantly ostracized or worse. I was in New Orleans when the four voter registrants were murdered by these white power idiots. Their remains were found in an earthen dam years later.
I was living at a rooming house in Fayetteville with many strange people. I stopped a rape in progress. I was kicked in the head by a gang of longhairs that I subsequently put in Reform School.
I was living at a rooming house in Fayetteville with many strange people. I stopped a rape in progress. I was kicked in the head by a gang of longhairs that I subsequently put in Reform School.
I ran into the nearby courthouse and straight into a courtroom streaming blood from the head wound. The judge was pissed at me for barging in. However after seeing the blood he had the Deputies go and find these perps. It was so dramatic that it only took minutes to find these guys and lock them up. I really like teaching heavy lessons to criminals that they will never forget as long as they live. Don't mess with the bear.
I met this lesbian. She was nice enough, although a tad weird since she only shaved one side of her head. She kept inviting me to go to parties which turned out to be group grope sessions filled with the incongruity of youthful behavior. If you stay the night you will wake up without your wallet. This is how it is even today. Remember at every step on the Path there is danger.
The last time I saw Michael Bear he was at the Healing Gathering in Washington. He was building the outdoor kitchen. He was giving directions to the younger guys as a teacher of skills. This outdoor kitchen needed lots of support personnel to operate efficiently. He saw to all the details and shepherding many people into the Rainbow Way of Life. There has never been someone who could equal Michael in his devotion to Family.
I lost track of Michael and Peanut. I heard they had a baby together. I had a spiritual vision of Michael running through the forests and mountains wearing his celebration shirt and moccasins with a great big grin on his face. That is the best memory I have of him. I later heard he died in Arizona one cold night from bacterial spinal meningitis. He could have been saved had they recognized the symptoms early enough. This is the way it is if you have no residency in the particular locale you get sick in.
The last time I saw Michael Bear he was at the Healing Gathering in Washington. He was building the outdoor kitchen. He was giving directions to the younger guys as a teacher of skills. This outdoor kitchen needed lots of support personnel to operate efficiently. He saw to all the details and shepherding many people into the Rainbow Way of Life. There has never been someone who could equal Michael in his devotion to Family.
I lost track of Michael and Peanut. I heard they had a baby together. I had a spiritual vision of Michael running through the forests and mountains wearing his celebration shirt and moccasins with a great big grin on his face. That is the best memory I have of him. I later heard he died in Arizona one cold night from bacterial spinal meningitis. He could have been saved had they recognized the symptoms early enough. This is the way it is if you have no residency in the particular locale you get sick in.
Taking a course of antibiotics regularly has kept me disease free. My preferred antibiotic is penicillin which I get in Mexico at a substantial price reduction. Not all penicillins are equal. There are different types since the medical profession is trying to control the distribution. People go to the hospital for two reasons: to get better or die.
Fate finally caught up with Michael Bear I heard he died of spinal méningitis. Peanut was now alone with the child. I hope for the best but fear the worst. The
Rainbows are persecuted by neglect by nearly everyone much like the Indians are. I have great affection for the persecuted.
Michael showed me the oldest morning prayer of the Oglala Sioux. Upon arising, the Warrior would face East and say "everything to the East of me is sacred." Turning a quarter turn to the left he would say "everything to the North of me is sacred." Another quarter turn he would say "everything to the West of me is sacred" and finally turning to the South saying "everything to the South is sacred." Each turn was accompanied by a deep bow. He draped himself with a blanket to perform this obligation. He bravely carried on without a body in the spiritual world. Michael Bear is someone you never forget.
Michael showed me the oldest morning prayer of the Oglala Sioux. Upon arising, the Warrior would face East and say "everything to the East of me is sacred." Turning a quarter turn to the left he would say "everything to the North of me is sacred." Another quarter turn he would say "everything to the West of me is sacred" and finally turning to the South saying "everything to the South is sacred." Each turn was accompanied by a deep bow. He draped himself with a blanket to perform this obligation. He bravely carried on without a body in the spiritual world. Michael Bear is someone you never forget.
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