WHY? Life on the Streets for Many

Today, by the time a child is a senior in high school, 70% have already tried alcohol. 50% will have tried some type of an illegal drug. 40% have smoked tobacco or used a nicotine product. 20% of children will have used a prescription drug for a nonprescription use. Despite these numbers, we look at the broken who live on the street with discourse in thinking, "They choose their addiction which landed them on the street." The relation to childhood drug or alcohol use to adult addiction is overwhelming.

The environment around a teen greatly impacts teenagers choosing to experiment with drugs or alcohol. Violence, physical abuse, sex abuse, emotional abuse all play a role in the temptation of alcohol and drug use. Personality traits such as ADD and ADHD also increase the likelihood of a child trying something that will have a negative impact on them.

If a child experiences trauma at a young age and / or becomes addicted to drugs or alcohol, it will change the growth pattern of the prefrontal cortex. That said, the impact will last a life time. Addiction can soon set in and life is forever changed.
The other side of addiction:

On top of the above information, addiction equals a lack of human “meaningful” interaction. In other words, the addicted may interact with other users, but at a very surface level while clean or sober.

Furthermore, the addicted man or woman who lives on the street usually has zero healthy relationships nor knows how to form one while addicted.

So, could adult addiction be a combination of child trauma, lack of relationship? My thought would be yes.

Why? The damaged prefrontal cortex, that was damaged in childhood, is the planning region of the brain. It is where personality and expression originate from. Most importantly for continued use of negative behaviors, the prefrontal area is where decision making takes place along with moderating social behavior.

Knowing how sections of the brain function further verifies that addiction and lack of social interaction and healthy relationships go hand in hand. Especially when you dive into damage to the brain caused by childhood trauma followed by alcohol or drug use.

Many on the street do not know how to have positive connections with other human life. More so, their brain does not know how to cope with life without medicated help. The addicted brain related to childhood trauma does not know how to navigate behavior and life.

Of course, it is much deeper than my above words once you mix in mental illness and depression. That is an entire book on information.

Too Tired

She sat alone inside a small city bus shelter too timid to use the bench. It was as if she had been told one thousand times before to not sit on the bench, it was for "riders."

As she tried to talk she could not stay awake. In between words she would fall asleep, never completing a sentence.

The Bible remained open as she lacked the strength to turn the pages.

“Tired, tired with nothing, tired with everything, tired with the world’s weight he had never chosen to bear.”

— F. Scott Fitzgerald, "The Beautiful and Damned"

Argue about Conspiracy

If you like to argue and get nowhere, then search out this fella in Washington DC. He is parked inside his tent of humanity across from the White House. You may even agree with him, but he will still find at least one conspiracy theory that proves you wrong – which would prove him wrong if he agrees and then disagrees with you.

“People’s minds are changed through observation and not through argument.”

— Will Rogers

Below: Same tent, different person on shift in year 2015, February.

Corea or Korea?

Standing in front of the White House with signs in hand mentioning North Korea and South Korea spelled as "Corea" is no mistake.

Sure, I could have read deeper into the small protest of two, but I was more confused as to why “Korea” was misspelled – or was it?

The accepted push for such a change from “K” to “C” was given the nod of Korean Scholars and Politicians as a drive to make the English spelling begin with the "C" instead of the "K."

But why?

The thought was that the Japanese changed what was originally a "C" to a "K" at the start of their 1910 to 1945 occupation because the "J" in Japan comes after the "C" in what may have been the original English spelling and Japan would not stand for such... Therefore, Japan went with the "K."

Looking back to year 1890, Korea was spelled "Corea" on the cornerstone of the British built embassy in Seoul. Early evidence in English books, maps and other printed material also display a "C" instead of the "K." The change to the "K" came on strong in 1910 and the rest is history.

Daniel the Marine

People don't always look as you may assume they should look: He has met past presidents, worked with troubled youth, served our country in the armed forces, helped prison inmates, led a church and more.

His name is Daniel Kingery and he travels the country picking up trash while displaying his sign “CleanHonestGov.com.” The website is a mix of his views, ideas and information on the government.

Originally from Iowa, the 2007 Presidential candidate goes from state to state talking to anyone who is willing to listen.

The former U.S. Marine was once the owner of several junkyards and a laundromat in the past, according to the “The Rock Island Argus” Newspaper. The paper also wrote in '07 that he stayed in the Kansas City Mission for a short period, and has served jail time for various contempt of court sanctions regarding disagreements with various city or community officials.”

To say he has seen some interesting things while being homeless would be an understatement.

In 2018 the 58 year old Kingery was homeless in the area of the White House. There, he has sat through extreme weather conditions, religious protests, public demonstrations, and white pride marches... He was not said to be a part of the rallies, protests or marches – only at the right place at perhaps the right time to witness history unfold in a small way. When interviewed by “Street Sense Media” reporter Christian Zapata he stated, “He looks at such events as opportunities to “learn from those who might be an enemy or have been taught to be one.”

“When they judge you, yawn.
When they misunderstand you, smile.
When they underestimate you, laugh.
When they condemn you, ignore.
When they envy you, rejoice.
When they oppose you, prevail.” 
― Matshona Dhliwayo

SURVIVAL: He came to the Washington DC

SURVIVAL: He came to the Washington DC area in the early 2000's for a construction related job. He told me the job went well, he got an efficiency apartment and life was good. The market eventually went sour in 2008 and the job was cut, the apartment was yanked away and life led him to the streets.

Some of us overcome obstacles while others only survive, grasping at the strings of the rope to remain afloat.

42 Year old Gail Carriger stated during an interview, “I suspect it may be like the difference between a drinker and an alcoholic; the one merely reads books, the other needs books to make it through the day." I think that sums up the difference of surviving verses living.

You Stand Out

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, the creator of Frankenstein wrote, “Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change.”

While the pain is great the growth can be greater.

If you want to change something, you have to think bigger than yourself. You have to think outside the box.

True, you maybe a little different from others. You may have had a few negative run-ins due to your creativity and free spirit. You may live with your head in the clouds at times and some may not understand you.

Others may talk negative about you and you fail to correct them because you are too busy dreaming or growing in some way.

Most won’t see eye to eye with you because you go places that are not full of beauty and lush green plants.

You fall down and make mistakes… a lot. Then, you admit to the many mistakes and misguided roads because your eyes see more than what is ahead of you at times.

You make others laugh to cover up your displeasure and distaste of guidance or hurts. Sometimes both.

Far from a social butterfly, you fly away from the crowds.

There is also a chance that you can’t make up your mind sometimes, overthink, underthink, fail to plan, jump from number 1 to number 10, don’t read instructions, don’t take instruction and finally - - run from things that make sense.

But hey, that’s you. You are different.

Start dreaming and stop talking, gossiping or bad mouthing others. Start moving. Or, continue the old road and don't make a difference - up to you.

“Life doesn’t stop for anybody.”

— Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Muhraka Monastery View

In Tennessee we have Lookout Mountain where you can see seven states. In Israel, they have where you can see Mount Hermon, Beit She’Arim, the Kishon River, Judea – Samaria, Jerusalem, Ramat Hashofet, Ein Masmofet, Kibbutz Dalia, Tel Aviv and Netanya.

Standing on top of the Muhraka Monastery on the highest peak of the Carmel Mountains  you can see a forest on one side and dirt and sand roads on the other.

Slower Pace

In some areas of Cuba, it is a slower pace of life. Instead of cars roaring down narrow streets, you often see taxis with pedals instead of engines. Conversation instead of cellphones. Smiles instead of glares.

“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." ― Henry David Thoreau

Underdog in the Supercar Fight

ABOVE: 2013 Lamborghini LP 550-2. The "2" is slightly more obscure than other Gallardo's because it is only rear wheel drive as opposed to all wheel drive. Perhaps this makes it slightly more exciting for automobile enthusiasts? My guess would be a solid yes.

He was born into the world to a family of grape farmers in 1916. Seeing the need for a better tractor, he started his own manufacturing company in 1948.

As an Italian who appreciated the artistic body of a fine automobile, Ferruccio Lamborghini had the income with tractor production in his pocket to buy a Ferrari. So, the man who grew up with little soon bought a few Ferrari's.

In 1963, tired of dealing with the mechanical maintenance of Ferrari, tired of poor customer service, Mr. Lamborghini decided to build his own super car.

Automobili Lamborghini officially born. Possibly, the true underdog in the supercar fight.

Amazing to See

Simply look and you too will be amazed at life. 

“Look deeper and you can find some stuff which will amaze you!” ― Deyth Banger

The Grand Canyon 2018

Unreal is Real

Sometimes the real looks more unreal. 

I shot this photo in Arizona where this is a similar site along the roadways and trails. The rocks look more like walls and the mountain peeks look more like statues. 

“Life without any wonder left in it is flat and stale.”  ― David Eddings

Lost

Lost in the middle of nowhere has a romantic feel to it. Not in the sense of love, but in the sense of adventure, escape from daily life and mystery.

“Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves.”

— Henry David Thoreau

Man Needs Colors

At the Valley of Fire in Nevada the rocks are amazing shades of brilliant red, some almost pink in color.

Some of the mountains of red sandstone can easily crumble to the touch while others have lasted for thousands of years.

Scientist suggest the Aztec Sandstone formed 150 million years ago from shifting sand dunes.

The park was designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1968.

The park in its brilliant red has reached record temperatures in the summer of 117 degrees.

Record lows have bottomed at 12 degrees during the winters.

The average temperature in the summer is between 100 and 105 degrees (June, July and August). The average winter low is 38 degrees in both December and January.

“Man needs colour to live; it’s just as necessary an element as fire and water.”

— Fernand Leger, French painter, sculptor, and filmmaker (1881-1955)

The Joshua Tree

A tree of twisting and turning with roots that grow deep into the desert inching along for water that other plants cannot reach.

The tree has leaves that stab like little daggers.

The Joshua Tree is named after the Prophet Joshua from the Bible. Like the tree, Joshua was known to be a man of strength. He was the leader of the Israelite tribes up until Moses died.

The trees only grow in one place... The Mojave Desert. That massive land area consists of 47,877 square miles and is the driest desert in North America.

Amazingly, the Joshua Tree can survive for up to 1,000 years.

The English name of Joshua means “Yehoshua” in Greek. The word Yehoshua means Yahweh in Hebrew and “Yahweh is Salvation.”

“Desert sky, dream beneath the desert sky. The rivers run but soon run dry. We need new dreams tonight. Desert rose, dreamed I saw a desert rose. Dress torn in ribbons and bows. Like a siren she calls (to me)”

— U2, Joshua Tree Album - Song: In God’s Country

In the song that was written by lead vocalist Bono, the desert is used metaphor for "spiritual drought".

New Treasure Found

Going home with new treasures on the same grounds that Jesus walked... In fact, only about 100 yards from where he rose again.

Perhaps this dumpster holds more treasure, curiosity and magic than others in Israel?

“Children make you want to start life over.”

— Muhammad Ali

A Sea of People in Old City Jerusalem

It was a sea of people around every corner in Old City Jerusalem. A mixture of tourist and locals going about their daily chores of shopping, sightseeing, selling and more. 

Jerusalem is the most visited city in Israel. About 3.6 million people visit the city annually.

Conversations in the Old City

In the Old City of Jerusalem you see shoppers making their way home from a day of purchases, you see beggars asking for change, you see the aged sitting in chairs along the streets talking, laughing, smoking. You see life, some of which resembles the way life may have been in the late 1500's.

Today, Old City consist of an estimated 27,500 Muslims, 5,681 Christians and 3,089 Jews.

The area is mixed with different religions all living together. Sometimes they live in harmony and sometimes they don't. It can be a mixed bag of rest and fighting. The United States Department of State reports, "Jerusalem has been assessed as Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution"

In a May 2018 edition of The Guardian, Harriet Sherwood wrote, "Christians in Jerusalem’s Old City say their presence at the geographical heart of their faith is under threat from intimidation and aggressive property acquisition by hardline Jewish settlers."

Life. It can be different from what we think depending on where we stand.

Celebrations of Lag BaOmer

Jewish men and boys laughed jovially as they took part in the celebrations of Lag BaOmer, the 33rd day of the Omer count.

It happened in May of last year (2018) and Bonfires were lit throughout Jerusalem as part of the celebration.

This particular event I photographed was at a Jewish school. In Israel, it is celebrated as a symbol for the fighting Jewish spirit.

A Jewish Night in Israel

2018: A Jewish night in Israel marked by a celebration.

"A mother understands what a child does not say."
-Jewish Proverb