Hi. My name is Eric. I'm what lots of young people would call an "old guy", since I'm in my early 40's. I have to tell you, I couldn't agree more. It's amazing how a person ages - you get to keep lots of the same things you loved as a kid, but your body feels different. But this blog isn't about me, nor is it really about the aging process. It's really more about the critical years of a person's life between the ages of about 14 and 24, and what's happening to many people in that age group from which you usually avert your eyes; the pierced, tattooed, unkempt, obnoxious sleepers-in-doorways of our cities.

Let me tell you a bit about this blog and why I am writing it. About 5 years ago, I was observing some fairly obnoxious young people like those I mentioned above in my (then) home town of Salem, Oregon. I thought to myself, "What makes those kids act like that? Do they have parents that care about them? What are their stories?" I also noticed that many people looked down on them, cursed them and were afraid of them. I'd even caught myself feeling that way at times. Since I am one who has learned to say, "there but for the grace of God go I," I decided to act. I bought a digital tape recorder and thought up about 15 questions, intending to start interviewing youth of all types, just to see what makes them tick. The first dozen or so youth I interviewed were homeless or nearly so and had such compelling, heartbreaking stories I haven't interviewed any youth from what I'd call "well-to-do" or even "middle class" homes. After all, I have those in my own home. I am more interested at this time in finding out what I can do and what can society do to assist those people whose first and most egregious sin in life apparently was to be born to irresponsible parents, who are unable to love them and care for them, or were in the wrong place at the wrong time, or a combination of the above. Don't misunderstand me; I am not one of those that feels that we can blame all our missteps on our parents, our situations into which we are born, or any external event or force. We are what we make of ourselves and no one is immune from problems. But let me assure you that as you read these stories (which I will post monthly near the 15th), you will feel for these youth and hopefully thank your own parents for providing you with a better start (presumably) than the bulk of these kids. Anything can happen to anyone. The wealthiest family can be destitute in a day - another reason to to be careful about how you treat someone unlike yourself. Because "there but for the grace of God" ... go ALL OF US.

Unfortunately, the bulk of the interviews I had done were ripped off (they were in a backpack), so I've had to start over. I will post one per month for the next twelve months. I am headed down to LA next week for a seminar and I hope to pick up a couple interviews there. My final goal is to one day make this into a book similar in style to Studs Terkel's classic, "Working". But if not, if reading these stories makes my readers more compassionate towards these invisible siblings of ours, I'll be happy.

One final note. Since I do hope to publish these interviews in book form, please post comments to this page so they can be read by possible future publishers. I would assume that the greater interest I can show for these young people through your comments, the greater chance we have of getting these published! If I do get this published, I hope to continue to raise awareness and to eventually create and operate an environment for those that wish to get off the streets similar to Mammas Hands, a privately run shelter near Seattle. Visit them at http://www.mammashands.com/. Their story is truly amazing.

Eric

Bend, Oregon