Have a Great One!
A Homeless Man's Story
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What is goodness then? It's that part of a person that is pure and loving and unselfish. It's the open heart the effortless giving that needs nothing in return. It's the innermost part of our being--the part of us that is most godlike, most selfless. It's the part of us that remains untouched by the rest of the world, that radiates in light and joy and never ceases to be. It's the most evident in the face of a newborn baby or a parent singing his child to sleep. Years of living through pain and hurt build in layers over this goodness inside us and some never find it again. Some find it but only with the help of others. Sometimes our lives are so distorted that the goodness becomes unrecognizable, and although it doesn't cease to exist, it is never seen."
--Laurie Anthony
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Pretend you no longer sit in front of your computer reading this review. You are transported outside where your neighbors line the park benches. Many of you are wrapped in blankets to ward off the cold. You have caught the flu, but you're unable to afford a bottle of aspirin, let alone a doctor. You don't have the luxury of knowing where you'll sleep tonight, or if you should, since someone might rob you, or worse. It's not an easy illusion to muster. Life on the streets takes survival skills you may never have to imagine.
Laurie Anthony's family moved from Ohio to New York for one year, so her son could study theater. On her morning walks, she entered the world of the homeless. She was drawn to a panhandler: a mild-mannered, former math teacher who told everyone to " Have a great one!" even when he was not having such a great one himself. She began journaling her impressions, and realized her mission was to promote understanding and awareness through the writing of this book.
An elementary school and special education teacher by profession, Laurie has crafted scenes worthy of a novel. Have a Great One! has all the suspense, intrigue, and drama of a bestseller. The author describes her excitement in her new environment. She captures dialogue, facial expressions, the sights and sounds of the big city--including the more disturbing ones.
Have a Great One! A Homeless Man's Story is about a panhandler named J.C. struggling to survive in New York City. But it is also the story of a woman on a journey of self-discovery. It is the story of the bond that can form between two people who make a connection by chance, and find enough courage to tell each other the truth. It's about coming to an understanding: that some mistakes in life can be rectified, while others never will. Yet, the message in the book is uplifting. If you let go of blame and let in compassion, you can grow and make a difference in the world.
The book is also a story about risk. Though the author adds many current statistics about homelessness, she rarely sat at a desk to passively research her work of non-fiction. She braved the elements to record interviews. Sometimes she feared she was being followed and at other times she sensed she was being conned. She lost sleep worrying about her new friend if he didn't show up at a meeting. And her friend lost sleep worrying about her. J.C. also took many risks. He trusted a stranger. He told stories about his life he had never admitted to anyone. He confronted people he had hurt in the past, risking rejection. He faced his own confusion and fears. Despite the odds, J.C. dared to hope. The book itself is a risk. You will wonder why a major publisher did not buy a Great One! and what we're missing when writers lack the conviction to distribute their own work.
Many of us could probably survive being homeless if we had to. Choosing life, no matter how grim, over death is a basic instinct. It's whether we have the ability to conquer despair, and make wise choices that allow us to create the kind of life we want or need. But sometimes tragedies play havoc with our reasoning. We don't get the help we deserve. Drugs, destitution, crime, physical, or mental illness can seep into our lives when we're vulnerable. How many times have we ignored someone else's suffering, because the most frightening thought is: it could happen to us.
Laurie's powerful book gets to the root of what it means to be human. It reminds us that unconditional love only occurs when we learn to accept each others' differences. Forgiveness, laughter, sharing hot coffee on a frigid day, these are moments of selflessness that make our time on earth worthwhile.
I won't tell you the details of what occurs when and where, or repeat statistics about the homeless. To do so would diminish the effectiveness of Laurie Anthony's book. You need to experience the author's every word, to tunnel through her emotions, while she tries to make sense out of what went wrong in another person's life. Don't expect easy answers or solutions. a Great One! is a story about telling the truth.
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