This story has an amazing history and continues to grow in its evolution.

I first met the individual I got the idea for the story from about 15 years ago as I was introduced by a lady who wanted me to write the story of this guy's life.  We went and met this gentleman who, at the time, was working the graveyard shift at a detox word for chemically dependent people.  It was in a nasty section of town and I remember going in and feeling the heavyness that surrounded the place.

We sat and listened to this guy tell us stories of his life that were just wild.  I remember trying to take notes and thought to myself that I really should have bought a tape recorder as I wasn't able to write fast enough to keep up with his wild stories.  I finally gave up and just listened as this man painted the picture that was his life.  As I sat there, I realized that this man's story is many men's story.  So many people coming back from a military conflict or war have difficulty adjusting.  Whether it be from witnessing the horrors of combat and killing or just the trauma of putting your life on the line day after day.

After listening to this gentleman's experiences with the war, this woman asked me to write a story revolving around this man's experience.  After the first revision, she realized I wasn't telling it like she had wanted so we both began writing togethger.  We wrote for approximately a month and painfully hammered out about a 60 page shell of a manuscript.  I say painfully as we both just came from different writing styles and had completely different personalities.  I knew the manuscript needed lots of work and figured in time that we would get to it. 

Well, as life often does, time goes by.  A few years later I found the rough draft manuscript under some files and dropped it off to a person whom I knew was trying to break into the industry as a filmmakers.  She took the script and upon taking it I told her, "Don't lose it as I don't have it on disk, just this rough draft."  She assured me she wouldn't lose it and I left it with her to read.   Again, as it often does, time went by and I had forgot about the story, the script, and most other things.  A few more years went by when I suddenly remember that I had left the script with her and I had an itch that I wanted to scratch and that itch was to further develop the story.  I called my friend whom I left it with and she not only didn't have it, she assured me that she gave it back to me.  I knew this wasn't the case but what could I say?

I let the story drop and began working on another story about life and death.  Another year or two went by but the general impression that this man's experience still stuck in my mind.  It had now been several years since I'd met the man and had put out some notes (rough draft) with this woman on the story.  I couldn't even remember much of the stories but the essence of his experience was still vivid and still painted strong images in my mind.  So I eventually sat down and began to create a new script from the ashes in my mind of the old one.  The story ended up being 119 pages but I felt good in that I felt the story raced.  I felt its fast-pace and passion in every word and I felt this man's pain in every step he took. 

The script continues to go through editing but the essence of it remains as a passionate, brutal look into the world of post-traumatic stress and into the world of homelessness.  Every time I reread the story I am inspired and awed by what some people are willing to endure.  This story helps deepen my perspective on life and not a day goes by that I don't give thanks for whatever gifts, treasures, talents, drama, and trauna that I am experiencing.  Because, no matter how difficult my life seemed at the time, I knew in my heart that most people in the world would give anything to be in my position of living a middle-class existence.  If the story goes onto inspire others, it is my hope that one of the things that people take from it is a deeper sense of appreciation and a perspective that reminds them how truly lucky they are.