Relying on the Kindness of Strangers

Michael Calabrese became famous for attempting to outrun hurricane Irene, anchoring off a lee shore, taking a nap during the storm, ending up on the beach, and having 'someone' set his boat on fire.  Then, he was arrested for various charges, including defecating in a police car.  Now, some angel has bought him a new boat at an auction.


http://www.wtkr.com/news/wtkr-michael-calabrese-gets-a-new-boat-new-look-at-life-20111214,0,333122.story


On one hand, I can understand how some folks don't always deal with the crap that life can toss at us.  The whole "walk a mile in his shoes and see how you handle his life" reminds me that I don't have all the answers and I'm not done growing up.

On the other hand, there were many times in my life, when it may have been convenient for people to just give me things so I could "get a new look on life."

But they didn't.  I had no angel that just gave me stuff and solved my problems.  I had to deal with my baggage myself.  I had to take responsibility for my own baggage, my own mistakes.  I had to carry it, find a way to lighten my load, and try to trim my own shit down to a package that can fit in the overhead bin of life.  I haven't done too bad.  The baggage was mine but, you know, the lessons are mine too.  I earned them.  

When I've needed it most, sometimes people have helped carry my baggage, but it was always mine and it always landed back on *my* shoulders.  

I don't resent that someone gave this guy a boat, but I do recognize that, unless he owns his own stuff, he will be one of the driftwood human beings in our society, a modern day Blanche from A Streetcar Named Desire, always relying on the kindness of strangers and never taking responsibility for himself or his actions.