Have you ever been scared of living?
After the Marines life started to scare me. Where do I go? What do I do? Who am I now?This was how I thought when I got out of the Marine Corps. And with my discharge came hearing loss as well as exposure to toxic chemicals at Camp Lejeune NC from 1983-1985.I was never without some kind of problem. My dad killed himself when I was 17 by jumping off the Coronado Bay Bridge in 1980. My brother and O were physically and emotionally abused by our fad and stepmother. My real mom was an alcoholic and left when I was three years old. It seems I have always had a lot of pain and hurdles to overcome. After a while it becomes normal, self esteem drops and I figured I was jut damaged. Becoming homeless after the Marine Corps made sense. It was like this was the road predestined for me.
There's much much more to this story. In the end what brought me comfort from the pain of living was and is fishing. The activity is not just about catching fish. Its about connecting with others. Its about recognizing and healing our trauma. Its about accepting our lives, our pain,our successes and our failures. And most of all fishing allows me to feel alive again. Help me help other vets like me to experience the same.
I'm raising funds for Backpack Bed for Homeless
Please help me raise funds for fishing trips for veterans in my area. I am a Marine veteran living in North Carolina. I am disabled and 62 years old but still love fishing. I also know lots of veterans who would love to be able to take a trip to the lake to fish. Help me make this dream come true for other veterans..I know first hand how it feels to be homeless, hungry and tired from constantly trying to survive. I know the feelings of always being on guard. I also have been blessed in many ways. I want to try and give back as best as I can. What better way than to give a veteran a new fishing pole and gear to catch their own food? Its one of my passions to fish. Help me give back. Thanks
