Other

American expatriates...for having the foresight to escape before the emerging fascist state prevents them from leaving without proper "papers."

When I was about 16 and in the height of my rebellion as a teenager, I got kicked out of school for lack of attendance. Actually they made me quit so they wouldn't have to kick me out which would give me the chance to return if I got my head straight. I had to get a job which then gave me the not so bright idea of running away - for which I ended up in juvy. The court assigned me to a counselor, a young woman in her mid twenties whose name I can't remember. I gave her a lot of baloney about my parents - mostly about my mother who I was convinced hated me at the time. She listened for awhile to my tirade and told me something I found quite profound at the time. She told me that for all the trouble and grief I was causing my parents which was really to myself, that in only a couple of years I was going to be free of them and able to live my life the way I wanted - that my life would be my responsibility. Then I could do what I wanted and did I know what I wanted to do? She said t... Read more

my local bartender is ok. he gives me a beer for free from time to time.

When I was about 11 years old I used to hang out at the small community train station that was located near where I lived. I would spend hours watching the trains as they passed through and would study the people who were traveling to and from Manhattan. One day I met Eddie the train man. Eddie was a guy probably in his late 30s who used to sell tickets and he would often let me into the back room where he worked. I was fascinated by all of the train stuff which ranged from an electronic switchboard that monitored trains that were close by, to the 1920's style telephone which was used to talk to the dispatcher at Grand Central Terminal in New York City. Eddie would talk to me and try to teach me some of life's lessons and even today I can remember at least one philosophical point he made to me. What I remember most however, was that Eddie was a cheerful guy, he always had a few dollars in his pocket and he seemed to enjoy life. He told me that sometimes when the weather was nice, h... Read more