I spent a good deal of my youth watching and talking to people as I meandered off and on porch stoops in the city of Hudson, New York in the 1950's to the early 1970's. Being a 'street-kid' from around age 3 with two older siblings, I think I witnessed and communicated with one of every type of personality created... even the ones who did not want to talk, I experienced. Age did not matter in this street-sharing.
So it is no wonder that with my education in place, that I would spend several of my career years working with people... the people that most ignored, or walked away from to the other side of the street to avoid, and that many families discarded or desperately needed to let go of, by sending them to institutions or residences for those who think and sometimes function differently than the norm.
I have rewritten these two pieces numerous times. My experience was in the late 1980's. MJ and Lazlo have long since passed on. I met so many wonderful people in the field of mental health.. this is in remembrance of two of them. More will follow in future postings.
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