I wish I would have spent more time listening to some of the guys in here. It’s not that I didn’t, I learned so much over the years, but I wish I spent less time watching the cooking channel and more time listening to the life stories of some of these incredible human beings.

It’s the natural flow of a conversation that gets me, not the forced therapy version but the unabashed solemn moments when a person is recalling something from a point of utter safety and freedom from judgment. I wish I spent more time listening to those.

I recently listened to a kid named Eric tell me about when he became homeless in Hawaii for the first time. He was 12.

Or a guy who held his Mom when he was less then 10 as she died at the hands of her boyfriend. He was sent to live with family in another state where he was groomed to go to prison.

I could go on.

And on.

I wish that others could hear these stories, these souls being given as precious gifts. Like precious jewels being passed around a table and carefully admired before being delicately handed back to their rightful owners.

Maybe I’ll try to capture a few of them and do my best to share.

With Love
Ruth Utnage