8 GROUNDCOVER NEWS COMMUNITY RESOURCES STREET from page 3 constantly been enlightening me with, Hammer.” Still, we need to give credit where it is due — the social workers that are doing the work on and off the streets, who tirelessly are at homeless encampments trying day in and out to save lives, with very little appropriate support from the system that assigned them. And there needs to be a special awareness to the Washtenaw General Defense Committee and Washtenaw Camp Outreach, tirelessly and fearlessly being there for the desperate homeless. There are many other involved entities, including Mission, Solidarity House, Mercy House, Purple House, Peace House, Hamilton House, the Ypsi Freighthouse and other warming centers, and the Hope Clinic (especially Heather) and so many others I’m not fully aware of. Many selfless individuals dedicate themselves when the system just works to keep you in the corner. They all, in some part/manner, have assisted in a step back up for me … although unfortunately too late for my faithful Kona. Here’s how I’m trying to get hold of that kite string: face them directly, unflinchingly, never ever even considering defeat. You have never lost until you’ve given up. Ken Parks has “Breathe in, breathe out and do some good today.” All of Us owe a great deal of respect and gratitude to Ken Parks for standing strong on the front lines decade after decade. The powers that be must be saying, “How is this man still here, still fighting for them?” I have great appreciation for the loving grace of Ken for grabbing me by the cuff when I might have been going under, for Christie Blais’s (of PATH) diligence, patience, and kindness, and for Lindsay Calka (Groundcover News publisher and friend) who encouraged me to finally use the pen. I thought I was going to be writing about Kona first, or how we got here — but, out there…they’re all me, we are, all going through the same s*** — we are all One — unforgettably feeling pain shoved deep, haunting every homeless step. But, everybody who works with or at Groundcover News is dedicated to a better world in which we love, accept and support. Groundcover vendors are the brothers and sisters that immediately opened the family door without hesitation or judgment. Their shoulders are keeping me up now. They know I'm/we are here because we've been knocked down, and inevitably have seen a lot a s*** — and are ready to get back up and get it right. This is the rest of the family that has the love, skill, and/or determination to be there and raise Us up; advertisers, volunteers, editors, publishers, sponsors (Argus's for kindly and supportively allowing me/us to sell papers there). This is the Ann Arbor Groundcover family! — or one of our approximately 100 integrated street papers worldwide that are dedicated to those of us following closely behind… May Grace be to OUR Streets Markona Love Author's note: This piece is dedicated to KONA (bird pictured right in byline photo). Kona gave me the life I was destined for — against All odds from her many great sacrifices — ultimately Her Life. She is the Love of MY Life … Kona showed me that every sentient being feels love and pain. Knowing this is a heavy burden in life but, the journey was unimaginably joyful. I literally cried from overwhelming pure joy countless times; I had never known that it was possible to see life flushed in such brilliant colors, like nothing I could have ever dreamed or imagined — constantly checking “how can this be possible, to be in such a state of bliss, naturally?” With Kona anything was possible. Then, Kona was gone —- I was washed into a grey sea that I will forever tread to keep a memory of an impossible dream. Kona was and Always Will Be 'My Conduit to the Cosmos' P. S. The political extremists have dug in deep and entrenched in our system and have slandered and discredited me and everything else under the sky, just shy of shooting me in the head to keep me silent. So, might as well just “on my own … here we go." Write and Speak! "Stay Tuned To This Bat Channel" to see if I’m still blinking, when this comes to print. It is your time to get aware and step the f*** up! No, not for me. I’m just a speck in the dust that covers all the mistruths. Let’s start by getting back to the Ann Arbor you thought you never lost. Talk is cheap. Change always takes work and sacrifice. May we all one day see each other! MARCH 24, 2023
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