TASK #9 

February 25th--March 4th

The Fortunate Son

Everything hurts.  Michelangelo Antonioni

Your life is crummy? Runnin' short of luck? Your job blows? Credit card maxed-out? Your woman leave you for a mall masseuse? You sick and tired of being sick and tired? 

You team lost? You feel fat? Your car acting up? The tax man breathing down your neck? 

Life can really blow. It can just suck the joy out of living. But guess what, dude. As bad as it is, and much as it sucks, you have it better than someone else. 

And you're going to see it in person. 

TASK:

This week you are going to look in on some men who have it worse than you. You HAVE to volunteer, or at least visit, one of the following locations:

1) The waiting area of the emergency room. Go to the nearest big city. Find the emergency room waiting area. Sit down for four hours. You'll see the flotsam and jetsam of humanity roll in and out like the tide. 

2) Homeless shelter. Shelter is a basic human need. Many men don't have it, so they go to homeless shelters. Go to one and help out or just sit and watch. 

3) County homes. Fun places where aging men without means, or family, or both are institutionalized. 

4) School for the mentally challenged. Is it blissful not to know that you're one of the disenfranchised? I don't think so.

5) Orphanage or foster home. 

6) Or drunk tank, or skid row, or mental health institute. You make the call.

Then come home and write about it.

If you have any comments or questions, e-mail me at joedobula@gmail.com