(Street Photography) Impeccably dressed man in Mexico City (left) - He reminded me of Frank Sinatra, in a way.
"I'm not one of those complicated, mixed-up cats. I'm not looking for the secret to life... I just go on from day to day, taking what comes." - Frank Sinatra
Mexico City has the 5th largest homeless population in the world. In fact, 40% of the total population in Mexico is living in poverty. The number of those who are homeless in Mexico City rings in at about 30,000 people.
Because Mexico City is so densely populated, many of the inner city parks have been transformed into homeless campgrounds.
As for the highest homeless population in the world, Manila, Philippines takes that dishonor.
The lasting impacts of sex abuse on boys is devastating as they age. Especially because most will never admit to it and if they do, it will be when they hit age 40 or even 50.
Daniel who is homeless, but currently jailed for assault charges, has struggled his entire life. He was raped numerous times as a child by another man, but has yet to recover even though he is in his forties today.
He struggles with severe anger at times that seems to come out of nowhere, feelings of no self-worth, a lack of value and more.
Daniel tries to please others as his mind never fully developed after the trauma because his brain was literally re-wired. While that sounds intensely insane to say, it is all proven by medical science.
Children who undergo such traumas at an early age see later in life that their brain acts and reacts differently than those without a background of such trauma.
Just to name a few issues that attack in adulthood:
- Lack of flight or fight response
- Fibromyalgia
- Increased chances of Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Failure to properly rest your mind and body
- Increased allergies (immune system not as strong)
- Unexplained stomach pain
- Increased addiction (70% more likely)
- 70% as likely to commit or attempt suicide
- More than twice likely to have depression
- Increased risk for eating disorders
- Higher risk of general health concerns or problems
- Failed relationships
- Fear of social interaction
- Codependency
- Real life brain damage
- Child sexual abuse victims were almost twice as likely to be arrested for a violent offense as the general population (20.4% versus 10.7%)
- 30% more likely than their non-abused peers to have a serious medical condition such as diabetes, cancer, heart problems, stroke or hypertension.
Medical research has come a long way and the studies on such victims has revealed more than was thought possible.
Child sex abuse on males today as they age into their forties, like Daniel, is compared to some of the worst PTSD reported by military personnel in the midst of seeing the bloodiest battles unfold before their eyes. While it may sound far-fetched, ask a Daniel – there are many Daniel’s in the world.
“Denial forces victims to retreat in lifeless existence, dieing in the shadows of buried trauma and painful memories.” ― Trudy Metzger
He served our country in the United States Navy while stationed on the USS Alamo. The old ship was launched into service in 1956 and has traveled to Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Philippines, just to name a few stops.
After getting out of the Navy, he returned to his hometown of California where he picked up his love for singing. His musical career took him to Las Vegas where he performed with bands on a regular basis.
Following that dream of music, he made the trek from the West to the South landing in the Music City (Nashville). Over the years he has sang at bars and musical venues throughout the country.
While he has traveled the world as a sailor and traveled the U.S. as a singer one thing has been a constant battle... Diabetes. That battle continues with the recent amputation of both his right and left legs.
He is not homeless, but calls a motel room near the heart of Nashville home.
On Lake Nicaragua, you will find small islands of huts adjacent to a small island with a mansion. It is quite interesting to venture into the polluted waters by boat. You will also find the remains of old buildings that were once high enough from the water’s edge when built, but were later flooded in storms. Fences still line the property that was once a habitat in some areas. On other islands, you will see monkeys jumping from tree to tree.
There have been many drownings in Lake Nicaragua and some believe that the lake is filled with spirits that pull swimmers to the bottom. Others talk about bull sharks that feast on swimmers. Of course, the bull sharks are real in the lake and not a fictitious legend.
Over the years, bull sharks from the ocean have made their way into the freshwater by swimming 120 miles up the Rio San Juan river from the Caribbean Sea. The sharks were first noticed in the mid 1500 chronicles of Spanish historian Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo y Valdés.
In the past few years, Nicaragua has tightened security at their borders. The reason being, many are trying to make their way through the country in hopes of reaching the United States by way of Mexico. In doing so, there have been multiple attempts of persons making their way into the country by way of water travel from the ocean and into Lake Nicaragua. However, many of those immigrants from places like Africa and Haiti later drowned when their vessels capsized in the middle of Lake Nicaragua. In other words, they survived the warm Caribbean Sea, but died in the fresh water of Nicaragua. Some of the recent drownings that occurred in July of 2016 included eight men from Africa.
William Boyd, who is almost 70 years old, performs on the streets almost nightly. He plays real silver spoons that he stashes away in his bag when he retires for the night. In fact, he even has a fork that he plays.
He has called the long term recovery program at the Room In the Inn of Nashville home for the past 3 years and is overwhelmingly thankful for it. Prior to that, he was on crack. But, he has been clean from that bondage for 9 years now.
Before he sought help, he was in and out of jail for a number of offenses that included alcohol and theft. However, that is no longer an issue as he has found his path… Making others smile. To do that, he sings and plays his silver spoons.
Boyd is 67 now, but he started playing the spoons, forks and butter knives in 1957 at age 8. His mother took him around town when he was a child to sing or play the spoons at different locations throughout Tennessee.
He still has a goal… to get noticed and get into the music business. He said three times, “I’m on YouTube – look me up.” He says, “I haven’t given up that dream, I still want to be a singer.”
“Hold fast to dreams, For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird, That cannot fly.” ― Langston Hughes (1902-1967)
He had tattoos all over his body and as he closed his eye lids the tattoos read, “The End.”
He stood about 6’4” and was a very nice gentleman, but I can imagine he was a force to be reckon with in his youth.
I asked, “So, why the tattoos?” He laughed a little and told me that he did not know why other than he was young at the time. The rest followed thereafter.
American tattoo artist Kat Von D once stated, “I am a canvas of my experiences, my story is etched in lines and shading, and you can read it on my arms, my legs, my shoulders, and my stomach.”
He weighed 165 pounds in 1972 when he won the 1972 National AAU Welterweight Championship. At that time, he lived in Chicago and trained in the C.Y.O. Gym. C.Y.O. stands for the Catholic Youth Organization. He was only 20 years old at the peak of his championship award and he hung up his boxing gloves for good at the age of 25.
Tonight I had the pleasure of giving Freddie Washington, Jr. a tent and water. Freddie, who is known on the streets of Nashville, Tennessee as “Champ,” was one of the nicest homeless men I have ever met. He was extremely polite and humble.
The Chicago Times wrote in 1972, “In three rounds for the 165-pound championship, Freddie Washington of Chicago Heights, 111., and the Army defeated Ed Gregory of Brooklyn, N.Y.”
Champ told me he took some major blows to the head over his boxing career and at one point, thought he would never be able to speak again. He proved the doctors wrong and put forth the same effort that he did during his training years to re-learn the process of speaking.
In the 1970’s he trained with greats like Billy Boy Thompson, Floyd Smith, and Warren Thunder. Tonight, I was in the midst of a legend.
In addition to boxing, Champ was also known for running. In his teen years, he was one of the fastest kids in Chicago wining numerous races.
Tonight was a great night.
"Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing." - Camille Pissarro
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