To raise, or not to raise...

Welcome, and namaste.

I presume you have been led here because you have a deep desire to raise your plow, although you may not know exactly what that means. Well, rest assured, you have come to the right place, and I am glad you are here. There are many layers of meaning in the expression "raise plow," from the profane to the esoteric. I will reveal only a portion of the wisdom contained within that mantra here, and it will be up to you to embark on your very own epic journey to discover for yourself what remains of the truth. Be warned, once you take the red pill, there is no turning back.

So why have I titled this blog, "Raising Plow?" Well, it all started in Dental School, when my roomates and I went to the mall and borrowed a sign. Here in Buffalo, it snows a fair amount in the winter, and there are signs around with instructions to plow operators. We were fond of making up euphemisms back then--still are--so as we pulled into an empty parking spot, and gazed upon the sign hanging boldly the concrete wall in front of us, we began to formulate an idea. What if we used the expression "raise plow" to indicate one's level of inibriation? How hilarious that would be!! Back then we were fond of drinking alcohol to dull the pain of the educational process. And so it went. We confiscated the sign, which was clearly ours to begin with, and went on about our business on that lovely, bitterly crisp, snow-filled Saturday, watching college football at Pizzeria Uno's, raising our plows.

Since that red-letter date in history almost 20 years ago, not much has changed, at least with respect to the expression, "raising plow." Even after 1992 release of the album "Raise the Plow" by Railroad Jerk, the expression remained cloaked in relative obscurity. When the Simpsons episode "Mr. Plow" aired, we laughed our asses off, but still nobody seemed to grasp the true meaning and profundity of this extraordinary phrase. Signs still abound in snowy parts of the country, and every time a vehicle passes by me with its plow raised, I tip my metaphorical hat to its driver.

But what is the actual meaning of raising plow? I've struggled with this question for many years, searching to the ends of the earth for an answer. Well, that may be a bit of hyperbole. I do still have the sign in my garage, so every once in a while I think about it, and it makes me smile. Which is what brought me to this blog. As I searched my mind for possible names, it seemed that there was a blog named practically everything. I tried nonsensical names, common names, and muddled up expressions or backwards speak. Everything seemed to be already taken. Then, in the bitter silence of my desperate solitude, the sign began to sing..."Mr Plow is a loser, and I think he is a boozer..." from my garage. I was pessimistic at first. Surely somebody had already thought of this name. As I typed the keys on my laptop, beads of sweat dripping from my brow to the tip of my nose as  my anxiety intensified with each stroke of the keyboard. And then it happened. Success!! It was available!!

So that brings me to now. What does it all mean? Well, I've pondered this question deep, and good. What I have come up with is this: the purpose of a plow is to move snow off the path so that travelers can reach their destinations, despite bad weather (the storm). Without a reliable plow man, we are essentially "snowed in." If there is a shortage of plows, many people remain stranded. When people rely on others to plow the snow out of their way, they become dependent. When you decide to become a plow man, and call Komatsu Motors (or its equivalent on the etheral plane) to rent you very own plow, you become self-sufficient! However, there are dangers on the road for a plow man. There are bumps in the road which can wreak havoc with your plow, which is the only instrument you have for moving the snow out of the way. There are mailboxes, and animals, and most of the time the road is not clear. Sometimes you will plow into a field, and maybe even a ditch. You must keep your plow lowered in order to move the snow, but when you know the road ahead is treacherous, you must raise your plow.

It is now up to you to decide what the plow represents to you. Is it literally a device that moves snow off the road? Perhaps it is logic? Or maybe consciousness? Magic? Whatever you decide, I look forward to being a part of this journey with you. For I am a plow man, and I am eager to help you find your plow...and raise it.

Peace.