100 Days Across the USA: Against All Odds

Indianapolis, Indiana---Along this trip I have had people ask about him. They say it with a whisper, "Have you heard from him?" Spoken in a lower tone, it was almost like I was supposed to say, "Oh yes, he's in San Quinton poor thing..."

It's true, my lifelong friend had had a rough time growing up without a father and a lot of anger that he himself admits he's not sure why it was so prevalent in his youth. He fully admits he was a handful and that many people had cared and had tried to help.

Getting into trouble, a lot of it, was how his anger played out. And played out. And played out.

But fast forward 35 years and one good woman beside him later, and he is one of the most remarkable individuals---with an enormous record of overcoming difficulties of his past, that I have visited along my way across the United States.

As kids, our mothers were best friends. I never remember not knowing him. I remember riding tricycles in his grandparents small driveway. Getting older in those junior high years when boys had kooties, we were rivals but it would all come back around as we would be friends again in high school, and be in a group of friends who climbed mountains in Colorado and conquered raging rivers in Arkansas.

He has a lot that he could use to hold him back or have as excuses for not moving forward but he doesn't go there any longer. Deaf in one ear since birth, you would never know. The death of his Dad when he was three and all that went with it, he has found understanding in time. A tough marriage too young, he looks back at a divorce and all the effort and has found peace with it too.

Learning one craft lead to another and as he learned his way up the ladder, without the luxury of a college education after high school, with hard, hard work, he has turned everything that was negative into a great positive life. He has been a supervisor of up to 24 people in school system's building, maintenance and projects departments.

"Don't you think it's funny he has a secretary," his wife laughed when I visited his office.
"I think it's amazing he looks so natural behind that desk," I said.

Taking those skills home, he was able to build decks and renovate a home recently purchased that overlooks a forest complete with deer. His wife was his second chance at love and unconditional acceptance and a great fit that obviously challenges him as well as supports his journey.

We walked around downtown Indianapolis and talked about our upbringing and what all life had dealt. He had so much going against him but against all odds, he has come out the other side. He is the boss behind the desk now. The successful professional and great father and husband.

I always believed in him. It's great to be right when it comes to people you care about.