I got my first bike when I was three years old I think our training was on it
years old I think our training was on it
years old I think our training was on it it ain’t count I really remember my red
it ain’t count I really remember my red
it ain’t count I really remember my red and yellow Mongoose that I had that was
and yellow Mongoose that I had that was
and yellow Mongoose that I had that was the jig that was the bike I really
the jig that was the bike I really
the jig that was the bike I really learned how to ride on I have failed
learned how to ride on I have failed
learned how to ride on I have failed multiple times for some reason I
multiple times for some reason I
multiple times for some reason I couldn’t get the whole steering
couldn’t get the whole steering
couldn’t get the whole steering balancing pedaling thing down now most
balancing pedaling thing down now most
balancing pedaling thing down now most of you remember the first time you learn
of you remember the first time you learn
of you remember the first time you learn how to ride a bike sure you had a really
how to ride a bike sure you had a really
how to ride a bike sure you had a really huge fall
huge fall
huge fall I felt so hard I scuffed my knee up
I felt so hard I scuffed my knee up
I felt so hard I scuffed my knee up really bad with my mom teaching me how
really bad with my mom teaching me how
really bad with my mom teaching me how to ride my amazing new bike she bought
to ride my amazing new bike she bought
to ride my amazing new bike she bought me this particular time she was helping
me this particular time she was helping
me this particular time she was helping me up and she told me time and time
me up and she told me time and time
me up and she told me time and time again over and over get up and try again
again over and over get up and try again
again over and over get up and try again looking back at this moment I felt it
looking back at this moment I felt it
looking back at this moment I felt it realized the lesson I should have
realized the lesson I should have
realized the lesson I should have learned from that experience it was 2002
learned from that experience it was 2002
learned from that experience it was 2002 I was 12 years old in the sixth grade I
I was 12 years old in the sixth grade I
I was 12 years old in the sixth grade I will walk from the old Franklin middle
will walk from the old Franklin middle
will walk from the old Franklin middle school where I attended to our old
school where I attended to our old
school where I attended to our old townies home my mom was a registered
townies home my mom was a registered
townies home my mom was a registered nurse at OSU East Hospital less than a
nurse at OSU East Hospital less than a
nurse at OSU East Hospital less than a mile from where we lived before my
mile from where we lived before my
mile from where we lived before my father was involved in my life was just
father was involved in my life was just
father was involved in my life was just me hurt she did her best to provide for
me hurt she did her best to provide for
me hurt she did her best to provide for me she would spend many years in the
me she would spend many years in the
me she would spend many years in the healthcare business only to become a
healthcare business only to become a
healthcare business only to become a patient that same very Hospital earlier
patient that same very Hospital earlier
patient that same very Hospital earlier that year mom started experiencing
that year mom started experiencing
that year mom started experiencing severe abdominal pain now for those of
severe abdominal pain now for those of
severe abdominal pain now for those of you who don’t know what an appendix is
you who don’t know what an appendix is
you who don’t know what an appendix is was a small part of your intestine if it
was a small part of your intestine if it
was a small part of your intestine if it ruptures can lead to a series of medical
ruptures can lead to a series of medical
ruptures can lead to a series of medical problems she tried to see if the pain
problems she tried to see if the pain
problems she tried to see if the pain will go away and it didn’t her pendeks
will go away and it didn’t her pendeks
will go away and it didn’t her pendeks ruptured
ruptured
ruptured she had to be rush
she had to be rush
she had to be rush the hospital this mom was also a
the hospital this mom was also a
the hospital this mom was also a diabetic it only complicated the
diabetic it only complicated the
diabetic it only complicated the recovery process following her surgery
recovery process following her surgery
recovery process following her surgery mom still has some lingering symptoms
mom still has some lingering symptoms
mom still has some lingering symptoms which prevented her to go back to work
which prevented her to go back to work
which prevented her to go back to work during her time in the hospital she
during her time in the hospital she
during her time in the hospital she didn’t have anyone to assist her to make
didn’t have anyone to assist her to make
didn’t have anyone to assist her to make sure the household stay together
sure the household stay together
sure the household stay together especially when it came to making sure
especially when it came to making sure
especially when it came to making sure that bills were paid as a result she
that bills were paid as a result she
that bills were paid as a result she fell behind she was able to keep her job
fell behind she was able to keep her job
fell behind she was able to keep her job but it was the time that she needed to
but it was the time that she needed to
but it was the time that she needed to catch up on her health and her bills she
catch up on her health and her bills she
catch up on her health and her bills she realized that she needed a couple months
realized that she needed a couple months
realized that she needed a couple months or more to truly get back on her feet
or more to truly get back on her feet
or more to truly get back on her feet she understood that stressing about
she understood that stressing about
she understood that stressing about making sure the bills were paid wouldn’t
making sure the bills were paid wouldn’t
making sure the bills were paid wouldn’t solve the issue when all she needed was
solve the issue when all she needed was
solve the issue when all she needed was time that’s when she made a decision I
time that’s when she made a decision I
time that’s when she made a decision I made an everlasting impact on my life
made an everlasting impact on my life
made an everlasting impact on my life she decided we needed to live in a
she decided we needed to live in a
she decided we needed to live in a homeless shelter now this is something I
homeless shelter now this is something I
homeless shelter now this is something I wasn’t prepared for it
wasn’t prepared for it
wasn’t prepared for it what was it like to be homeless what
what was it like to be homeless what
what was it like to be homeless what about my friends there’s no way I could
about my friends there’s no way I could
about my friends there’s no way I could tell them this I mean think about it at
tell them this I mean think about it at
tell them this I mean think about it at 12 years old you know you really don’t
12 years old you know you really don’t
12 years old you know you really don’t have to participate anticipate being in
have to participate anticipate being in
have to participate anticipate being in these types of situations all I really
these types of situations all I really
these types of situations all I really wanted to do is either play my
wanted to do is either play my
wanted to do is either play my playstation or go outside so at the
playstation or go outside so at the
playstation or go outside so at the tongue I’m the only thing important to
tongue I’m the only thing important to
tongue I’m the only thing important to me was my childhood something I could no
me was my childhood something I could no
me was my childhood something I could no longer enjoy I had no clue what was
longer enjoy I had no clue what was
longer enjoy I had no clue what was ahead of me I had no clue how to stay
ahead of me I had no clue how to stay
ahead of me I had no clue how to stay balanced I had no clue how to stay
balanced I had no clue how to stay
balanced I had no clue how to stay balanced that’s deep right so the
balanced that’s deep right so the
balanced that’s deep right so the shelter is still there today on West
shelter is still there today on West
shelter is still there today on West Broad not too far from co-sign now at
Broad not too far from co-sign now at
Broad not too far from co-sign now at the time I didn’t realize this was a new
the time I didn’t realize this was a new
the time I didn’t realize this was a new situation for both of us I guess I was
situation for both of us I guess I was
situation for both of us I guess I was too busy thinking about getting through
too busy thinking about getting through
too busy thinking about getting through the end of the school year and well my
the end of the school year and well my
the end of the school year and well my our thing I can only imagine what my mom
our thing I can only imagine what my mom
our thing I can only imagine what my mom was going through that her friends and
was going through that her friends and
was going through that her friends and co-workers know was this even a
co-workers know was this even a
co-workers know was this even a situation that we can get out of as we
situation that we can get out of as we
situation that we can get out of as we walk up to the shelter to check in and
walk up to the shelter to check in and
walk up to the shelter to check in and to fill out paperwork I started to look
to fill out paperwork I started to look
to fill out paperwork I started to look around I was quite surprised to see how
around I was quite surprised to see how
around I was quite surprised to see how many people actually lived here and his
many people actually lived here and his
many people actually lived here and his place smelled different the beds were
place smelled different the beds were
place smelled different the beds were too close to each other and there was
too close to each other and there was
too close to each other and there was really no true sense of privacy a mother
really no true sense of privacy a mother
really no true sense of privacy a mother and I we shared a twin size bed and most
and I we shared a twin size bed and most
and I we shared a twin size bed and most of times she just slept on the floor so
of times she just slept on the floor so
of times she just slept on the floor so I could be comfortable now as the week’s
I could be comfortable now as the week’s
I could be comfortable now as the week’s went on start seeing the same faces I’m
went on start seeing the same faces I’m
went on start seeing the same faces I’m like this is real my mom would get
like this is real my mom would get
like this is real my mom would get frustrated because I often ask her what
frustrated because I often ask her what
frustrated because I often ask her what can we go home she will reply right now
can we go home she will reply right now
can we go home she will reply right now that’s his home son and this would
that’s his home son and this would
that’s his home son and this would frustrate me because I just want to be a
frustrate me because I just want to be a
frustrate me because I just want to be a regular kid I just want to have fun and
regular kid I just want to have fun and
regular kid I just want to have fun and just like I said just like to play and I
just like I said just like to play and I
just like I said just like to play and I would leave school just to come back to
would leave school just to come back to
would leave school just to come back to this place so at the shelter we got
this place so at the shelter we got
this place so at the shelter we got meals provided to his daily and for a
meals provided to his daily and for a
meals provided to his daily and for a lot of folks this was the only know they
lot of folks this was the only know they
lot of folks this was the only know they got during the day one day during lunch
got during the day one day during lunch
got during the day one day during lunch we met a young lady and her two boys now
we met a young lady and her two boys now
we met a young lady and her two boys now she had been in the shelter for over a
she had been in the shelter for over a
she had been in the shelter for over a year now and had yet to rebound her my
year now and had yet to rebound her my
year now and had yet to rebound her my mom would talk quite often mostly about
mom would talk quite often mostly about
mom would talk quite often mostly about their experiences about their day the
their experiences about their day the
their experiences about their day the current situation well I noticed most is
current situation well I noticed most is
current situation well I noticed most is her son’s behavior every day they would
her son’s behavior every day they would
her son’s behavior every day they would be outside the shelter playing around
be outside the shelter playing around
be outside the shelter playing around goofing off having fun as if they
goofing off having fun as if they
goofing off having fun as if they weren’t in a misfortunate situation at
weren’t in a misfortunate situation at
weren’t in a misfortunate situation at all I was confused how could they be so
all I was confused how could they be so
all I was confused how could they be so naive now what I didn’t understand was
naive now what I didn’t understand was
naive now what I didn’t understand was how could they play so joyfully when her
how could they play so joyfully when her
how could they play so joyfully when her mom was trying to get back on her feet
mom was trying to get back on her feet
mom was trying to get back on her feet and she was struggling I was
and she was struggling I was
and she was struggling I was apprehensive even think about playing
apprehensive even think about playing
apprehensive even think about playing with these guys I mean they were just
with these guys I mean they were just
with these guys I mean they were just have a too much fun it was just so
have a too much fun it was just so
have a too much fun it was just so uncomfortable for me
uncomfortable for me
uncomfortable for me so as the summer months went on I start
so as the summer months went on I start
so as the summer months went on I start playing with him more I start to ease up
playing with him more I start to ease up
playing with him more I start to ease up a little bit I stopped thinking less
a little bit I stopped thinking less
a little bit I stopped thinking less about where I was in the shelter and
about where I was in the shelter and
about where I was in the shelter and more about being a kid being myself see
more about being a kid being myself see
more about being a kid being myself see these kids they didn’t have
these kids they didn’t have
these kids they didn’t have materialistic things they had each other
materialistic things they had each other
materialistic things they had each other had their mom they weren’t a victim of
had their mom they weren’t a victim of
had their mom they weren’t a victim of their situation they learned from it and
their situation they learned from it and
their situation they learned from it and adapted to it we spent it we spent
adapted to it we spent it we spent
adapted to it we spent it we spent nearly six months in the homeless
nearly six months in the homeless
nearly six months in the homeless shelter it was one of the most defining
shelter it was one of the most defining
shelter it was one of the most defining moments in my life how many people may
moments in my life how many people may
moments in my life how many people may see when they see homelessness may think
see when they see homelessness may think
see when they see homelessness may think people are just beggars not even trying
people are just beggars not even trying
people are just beggars not even trying to just gave up well this is not the
to just gave up well this is not the
to just gave up well this is not the fact for most victims in fact once you
fact for most victims in fact once you
fact for most victims in fact once you become a homeless victim you realize
become a homeless victim you realize
become a homeless victim you realize it’s not as far as way as you once
it’s not as far as way as you once
it’s not as far as way as you once thought this was the case for my mother
thought this was the case for my mother
thought this was the case for my mother she was able to rebound catch up back on
she was able to rebound catch up back on
she was able to rebound catch up back on her bills and get the house payments
her bills and get the house payments
her bills and get the house payments back on track
back on track
back on track fast forward 15 years later the
fast forward 15 years later the
fast forward 15 years later the experience I had as a child is still
experience I had as a child is still
experience I had as a child is still with me today I learned a lot about the
with me today I learned a lot about the
with me today I learned a lot about the relationship between me and my mother I
relationship between me and my mother I
relationship between me and my mother I learned a lot about myself and about
learned a lot about myself and about
learned a lot about myself and about getting back up to achieve a goal among
getting back up to achieve a goal among
getting back up to achieve a goal among the fact that I’ve always had some type
the fact that I’ve always had some type
the fact that I’ve always had some type of sales job I chose to be a realtor so
of sales job I chose to be a realtor so
of sales job I chose to be a realtor so I can help people the fact that people
I can help people the fact that people
I can help people the fact that people would describe to you the reason to buy
would describe to you the reason to buy
would describe to you the reason to buy or rent is very interesting to me so I
or rent is very interesting to me so I
or rent is very interesting to me so I asked them what’s your motivation to buy
asked them what’s your motivation to buy
asked them what’s your motivation to buy why do you want to rent it’s a response
why do you want to rent it’s a response
why do you want to rent it’s a response as I receive whether it’s to start a
as I receive whether it’s to start a
as I receive whether it’s to start a family bring structure and stability to
family bring structure and stability to
family bring structure and stability to their lives or create additional stream
their lives or create additional stream
their lives or create additional stream of income it seldom about the physical
of income it seldom about the physical
of income it seldom about the physical property a house is not a physical space
property a house is not a physical space
property a house is not a physical space which an individual can call their own
which an individual can call their own
which an individual can call their own it’s a
it’s a
it’s a instrument to help people achieve their
instrument to help people achieve their
instrument to help people achieve their goals or to provide for themselves or
goals or to provide for themselves or
goals or to provide for themselves or their families this is the case for my
their families this is the case for my
their families this is the case for my mother as well understanding the process
mother as well understanding the process
mother as well understanding the process of helping people to get to their dreams
of helping people to get to their dreams
of helping people to get to their dreams to homeownership something I really
to homeownership something I really
to homeownership something I really enjoy
enjoy
enjoy obstacles are there for a reason these
obstacles are there for a reason these
obstacles are there for a reason these events are in your life to make your
events are in your life to make your
events are in your life to make your stronger individual the lessons we learn
stronger individual the lessons we learn
stronger individual the lessons we learn groom us into the best versions of
groom us into the best versions of
groom us into the best versions of ourselves sometimes we cannot control
ourselves sometimes we cannot control
ourselves sometimes we cannot control the series of events that leads us into
the series of events that leads us into
the series of events that leads us into difficult times bad things happen things
difficult times bad things happen things
difficult times bad things happen things in this life will be taken from you but
in this life will be taken from you but
in this life will be taken from you but nothing can take away what you’ve
nothing can take away what you’ve
nothing can take away what you’ve learned something as simple as learning
learned something as simple as learning
learned something as simple as learning how to ride a bike can teach us a life
how to ride a bike can teach us a life
how to ride a bike can teach us a life lesson that all of us can admire a
lesson that all of us can admire a
lesson that all of us can admire a mother and I has simply fell off our
mother and I has simply fell off our
mother and I has simply fell off our bike now all of us will have to learn
bike now all of us will have to learn
bike now all of us will have to learn how to ride this thing called life BB
how to ride this thing called life BB
how to ride this thing called life BB bumps that be bruises
bumps that be bruises
bumps that be bruises there’ll be frustrations there be
there’ll be frustrations there be
there’ll be frustrations there be disappointments but I promise you if you
disappointments but I promise you if you
disappointments but I promise you if you get back on there’ll be successes and
get back on there’ll be successes and
get back on there’ll be successes and it’ll be victories so the next time you
it’ll be victories so the next time you
it’ll be victories so the next time you fall off your bike just remember to get
fall off your bike just remember to get
fall off your bike just remember to get up and try again
”
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