The View from a Drawbridge

Tag: mental illness

  • Washington’s Mental State

    Since I bragged about Washington yesterday, it seems only fair that I air out a little of its dirty laundry today. One of the most shocking and unexpected things I’ve discovered about this state is the unbelievably high number of mentally disturbed people wandering the streets. On an average commute to work, I will see…

  • Important Story, but Wrong Angle

    It seems that a man in Oklahoma beheaded a former coworker. When you read about this, much is made of the fact that this guy had recently converted to Islam, and was trying to convert others as well. Apparently authorities are investigating his background. When you read about this story from a variety of sources,…

  • Jesus, Man…

    In a recent chat with one of my blog friends I was reminded of this guy who used to walk hundreds of miles up and down the coast of Florida during my childhood. He wore a brown robe tied with twine, and sometimes wore sandals, but was often barefoot. And he dragged a HUGE heavy…

  • Whack-a-Doo

    Once I was riding on a very slow and extremely crowded elevator. We all had our eyes glued to the floor number indicator, as you do. My mind wandered. I thought of something really funny that happened to a friend recently, and I started to giggle. The tension rose with the elevator. People began to…

  • My Own Personal Dallas

    The other day I had a unique opportunity. I attended a friend’s extended family gathering. The thing is, no one there knew me except my friend, and they didn’t realize how much I knew about their family dynamics. I’ve been friends with this person for decades, and he confides in me. I know all the…

  • When No One Wants to Take a Stand: A Story of Neglect

    I was 17 years old and a freshman in college, and I witnessed something that to this day I don’t fully understand. I’m sure there is much more to this story than I’ll be able to tell you, so I apologize in advance. Among my fellow freshmen was a girl whom I’ll call T. To…

  • My Friend the Psychopath

    Recently I saw an interview with a psychologist. I wish I could remember her name so I could give her due credit, but after hearing what she had to say it was like someone had poured a bucket of ice water over me, so I hope I can be forgiven if her name escapes me.…

  • If I Disagree with You, It’s because You’re Wrong.

    When my late sister wanted to push my buttons, she would say, “You have very strong opinions.” For decades, this put me in a place where I could not win. I wanted her approval so much that I’d try not to have strong opinions. I’d try not to have any opinions at all. I’d try…