“Have you ever made a mistake that’s going to haunt you for the rest of your life?” That’s what Marcus asked me, sitting in a dugout and staring out across the empty diamond into the darkness. He looked about mid-forties. I’d seen him sitting alone, away from the others–the hopefuls are often the ones sitting […]
There are some harsh realities that people need to understand. One of these is that our decisions have consequences. In the tunnel, just like everywhere else, not everybody seems to understand that. A lot of people do, though, and most people have a story to tell. I meet new people everyday in this effort, and
A day in the life… Read More »
City developers and conservationists have long worked to provide for wildlife threatened by encroaching human expansion. The creation of wildlife corridors allows God’s creatures to coexist with us, minimizing the kind of dangerous interaction that can lead to injury or worse. With the rapid growth of our homeless population, those corridors are gradually becoming home
An Environmental Impact on Urban Areas Read More »
It was a rough day. They pulled a guy out of a storm drain this morning. I guess he thought it was the only way out. The details are a hundred percent rumor and at least three degrees of separation, but I’ll tell you what I’ve heard. Darren (or maybe Darrell) was looking for his
Let’s get serious. There are many viewpoints regarding the homeless, and we need to be able to talk about them. Whether it’s harsh, depressing, enlightening, or otherwise, this is a good place to share your opinion. All we ask is that you remain respectful of each other’s positions, regardless of whether or not you agree.
I slept beside a creek somewhere in Tennessee last night. I wish I had met someone worthy of a life-changing blog entry (you know, like the other entries here), but I had the place all to myself. As expected, being alone with my thoughts made sleeping almost impossible. Fortunately, the frogs broke up the monotony.
Inconsequential Memories Read More »
I remember, from high school, the time when I decided to straighten up, get my act together, stop screwing around, that sort of thing. If I were to expect people to perceive me as a serious person, I’d have to behave seriously; if as an adult, I’d have to behave as an adult. It only
I swear on my mother’s grave, if one more Barbie hands me another sandwich bag full of tampons, I’m gonna rip her arms off and beat her with them. Please don’t misunderstand me, I do appreciate their generosity. Feminine hygiene products are a costly expense for someone living in the tunnel. They’re necessary and they’re
Do you remember the old “Will Work for Food” signs? They didn’t last long. It took little time to figure out that they didn’t want to work, and that they didn’t really want food. “Anything Helps” is a nice one. It kind of hits at the heart strings. My favorite, so far, is “Why Lie?
It’s definitely a different world living in the tunnel. I’ve had the luxury of sleeping in my car after spending days meeting people. That’s going to change tomorrow night. I’ve decided to get the full experience of tunnel life by seeing what it’s like to spend the night in the open air with no locked doors and no inflatable mattress—just me and my sleeping bag and whatever and