Tag Archives: personal growth

The Flip

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13

We were just back from Europe

Our apartment was small

We were getting depressed

In the land of strip malls

My fellow traveler and funky girlfriend

Both us feeling the walls closing in

Get in the Honda

And head toward the mountains

Looking to rejuvenate

In nature’s wonderful fountain

We found our spot and settled in

This is where the adventure begins

Cooking raw chicken

On busted tree limbs

We heard a strange noise

Coming from down the mountain

It was so far away

Is why we weren’t afraid

Wrapped up in blankets

That cold autumn night

Feeling the warmth of the fire

Everything seemed just right

When a loud and horrible roar

Came from just past our fire light

We ran to the car and locked the doors tight

We looked at each other

This isn’t right

All our things including the keys

Are still at the camp site

Our car was parked beside a drop off

In a precarious position

We needed our keys

To end this rejuvenation mission

A nudge from a bear would send us on a long rolling trip

We sat in the car and I suggested we flip

See my girlfriend was on a feminist kick

She never wanted me to hold open a door

Or carry the bags home from the store

A flip seemed modern and fair

She lost the flip

So she would be facing the bear

I kissed her good-bye

All she did was stare

Stare at the man

That gave her the ultimate dare

I kissed her again and flew out the door

Scooping up our stuff as I roared

Back to the car in a flash

Down the mountain we went

Back to the reality of paying rent

Nature’s fountain had rejuvenated our core

We were feeling much better than before

Our little apartment

Didn’t seem so bad…

Anymore

Junk Drawer of Your Mind

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What will you find

Emptying the junk drawer of your mind

What will you discover

Under the cover

Of random thoughts

Of random places

Street lights

And strange faces

So many thoughts

It’s easy to hide

In the frivolous riptide

That pulls our truth aside

What will you find

Emptying the junk drawer of your mind

I Surfed the Ocean of Despair

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19

I was the kind of foster kid that would stand with you till the end if you were my friend.

Even if it meant standing up to someone bigger, we would both get beat up together.

Even if it meant going AWOL to see some family, I would go with you.

When family members let you down, I would be the one to say dude why do you think we’re here.

I was the kid that would introduce you to everyone when you were new.

I was the kid that would always show you around school.

I was also the kid that would incite a riot.

I was one of those kids that was never quiet.

I was one of those kids that had a knack for getting out of jams.

I was one of those kids that was never really sad.

I always figured out a way of having fun.

That’s what got me through the system.

One of my many placements was MacLaren Hall, Los Angeles county’s hell hole. I spent over a year there — and I still have no complaints.

I was in there when the staff could put their hands on you. Give you a little wall to wall counseling.

I saw my fair share of solitary, known as Room One, where you’re stripped down to your underwear with just a mat in an eight by eight room and the bright lights never go out.

My system ride was no picnic.

It was like a wave of violence and dysfunction in an ocean of despair.

I say keep your eyes open, don’t turn your back on that wave. It will crush you.

Paddle out to it and surf it.

Look at it as an adventure.

You’ll come out less beat up in the end.

Take It Back

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Up on a hill on Wailuku Drive

Two boys on a bicycle fly by

Cousin on the handle bars

Me on the seat

Both boys cursing each other through their teeth

Ninety degree turn up head

Take it back, cousin I said

You take it back you freak

Both of us screaming ‘take it back’

While flying down the street

I’m not slowing down this bike

Until you apologize to me

You started it by popping a wheely

Too late now

Controlled crash it has to be

Sliding off the road into banana trees

All bloodied up with torn clothes

We left the broken bike in the groves

But off to work we still go

Both of us limping on opposite sides of the road

Flipping each other off as we moan and groan

I take it back cousin

There, I said it

It wasn’t right

Me popping the wheely

While you weren’t holding on tight

I know we laughed about it that night

But twenty years later

Ha, I beat you again

I said “I take it back” first

Got you again

Thank you cousin

You’ve been a great friend

Currency of Thought

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The only thing stopping us from success is ourselves.

It is amazing how a simple conversation can inspire.

It’s amazing how the digital world can take that inspiration and spread it all over the globe.

Being a former system kid, I thought about what I would tell a kid currently in the system.

I want them to know not only how to survive but how to thrive in foster care.

I put it on paper Thursday.

Revised it Friday and Saturday.

Published it Monday.

It will be ready for distribution in a couple of days.

It only cost a thought but will benefit so many.

The digital world has brought down the gate keepers.

I want to thank my digital community.

I want to thank all the people who post.

I want to thank all the people who like and comment.

If it wasn’t for the spark from you this idea would never have ignited.

Thanks for your support.

This is what the explosion looks like.

Thanks again.

Ken

Albertson

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We plotted murder that night

Running away from our cottages ready to fight

Eight thirteen-year olds clutching long metal pipes

What that monster did to that little boy wasn’t right

We gathered in the groves ready to strike

When Albertson popped out of the night

An off duty cop who patrolled with a big flash light

“Boys, where you going with those long metal pipes”

We surrounded Albertson ready to fight

Everyone was ready to go out with a bang that night

All for a boy we didn’t even know

We heard the story and it was go, go, go

It was not the first time… we heard that story before

After that night we wouldn’t hear it anymore

We told Albertson our thoughts and intentions

Albertson turned out to be a true rescue ranger

He rescued hikers day and night

“Boys, if that’s true, it isn’t right

Let me take up your fight

You don’t have to do this alone

Just because he’s head of the home

The decisions you make tonight are for keeps

Please go back to your cottage and go to sleep”

“Okay Albertson, we’ll do it your way”

“Don’t worry boys, if it’s true he will pay”

And pay he did

Albertson rescued all of us that night

Thank you Albertson for taking up our fight

Stand Tall

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Stand tall

Stand tall my little ones

Stand tall

It’s not your fault

Stand tall

After surviving the lies

Don’t be afraid to look others in the eyes

Stand tall

Stand tall when those about you fall

Stand tall

Speak for the weak

Screaming their stories from the highest peak

Stand tall

I will listen for your call

Stand tall

Just remember

You’re not alone

Stand tall.

Ruff

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Mark and I sat in a vacant lot laughing uncontrollably. An old church towered behind us.

It was late at night and we were trying to rein ourselves in from some mind-bending substance.

Everything was so funny, we couldn’t stop laughing.

We lived across the street.

We didn’t want to wake anyone up.

A puppy darted around the field, playfully dancing around us.

Mark called to the puppy.

The puppy happily bounced over to us.

Mark petted the puppy.

The puppy ran off to the street and immediately got run over by a speeding truck.

The truck came to a screeching halt.

Lights started popping on in the houses up and down the street.

I looked at Mark. He was looking at the hand that petted the pooch.

Neighbors started pouring out of their houses screaming at the driver.

Mark and I moved back into the shadows of the church.

He kept looking at his hand.

Eventually we were able to cross the street and go home.

We both worked in the morning so I didn’t see him till the next evening.

I met him at the pub.

I could tell he was still freaked out.

He looked at his hand like he had inherited the black hand of death.

We sat in silence even though the pub was buzzing with activity.

I wanted to tell him stuff just happens man.

I looked Mark in the eye.

The only thing I could say was…

Ruff.