Hole Punching. Cures. Divergent Paths.

Dear Ms. Meniscus,

I really want my tongue pierced but I'm only 13 and my parents won't let me get it done. Should I just go and get it done without their consent? Help!

-Piercing Provocateur

Dear Piercing Provocateur,

Your contentious query is apparently incredibly common; if one refers to the Ms. Meniscus archives, it rears its ugly head with noteworthy frequency. Ms. Meniscus will address this question one last time to appease all teenagers everywhere. To pierce or not to pierce; that is the question. If you think that this mundane issue has no existential implications, I would respectfully beg to differ. The issue at hand concerns your relationship with your parents more than it concerns the piercing. If you want to risk your parents' wrath, anger, humility, and general derision, then by all means, proceed. Ms. Meniscus salutes your ambition and declaration of independence. If the heretofore mentioned reactions do not appeal to you, however, consider an alternate approach.

Dear Ms. Meniscus,

I think there will be a cure for arthritis, but my friends say I'm believing in santa claus. Is it ok to believe there will be a cure one day, or am I just setting myself up for a huge let down?

-Hopeful

Dear Hopeful,

To the contrary, Ms. Meniscus applauds your optimism. We all must have hope; otherwise, we'd inhabit a very dark universe. Physicians, scientists, and researchers labor daily to find cures for many diseases, and often there is light at the end of these long tunnels of work. See for example the polio vaccine; prior to its development, the disease killed many people and debilitated scores of others, but once the vaccine was developed, the disease virtually disappeared. With arthritis, what we can hope for now is better medication with fewer side effects--products are constantly evolving. Until then, my friend, don't give up hope.

Dear Ms. Meniscus,

I'm taking glucosamine and haven't told my doctor. She's really against alternative medicines. Should I tell her?

-Alternative

Dear Alternative,

Ms. Meniscus suggests that you ask yourself what sort of professional relationship you'd like to engage in with your doctor. If it's one of honesty so that she can best guide the care of your body and your health, then inform her of your ingestion. If the reaction is, as you presume, negative, and if you feel that this alternative medicine greatly aids your entity, then perhaps consider consulting a doctor who would approve of this alternative path. Try city halls in California if you seek progressive approval.

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