I tend to be rather reserved, hey, I even wear bowties. In the epilogue from my first novel, Bobby’s Socks, the character, Bobby said, “I’m easy to talk to, but difficult to know.” I wrote that line for a specific reason. And if you take a look at the book cover, I think it tells the story. http://www.bobbyssocks.com/ Actually, I think the book cover editor and publisher did too good of a job. It is a tough book to read, because it is based on real science and that nasty booger, reality. And in part, the reason I use a pen name.
The screenplay that I drafted is a bit tougher, but I think it more revealing to help viewers deal with the issue. The point is to figure out a simple method to pull off the duct tape, and talk. I think the idea is to get people connected with a character, a profile, not a person. I think memoirs have a purpose, but I don’t think a 15 year old would pay much attention. But I do think they would pay attention to cool socks!
If you can simply invite them into the abstract world, and they learn that trauma from abuse, bullying has extremely dangerous consequences. Perhaps one of those children will say, “that’s how I felt.” And that is all the opening a trained professional needs to help save a life. Because that is the point, Bobby’s Socks was about child sex abuse and the epigenetic link to suicide.
As I wrote previously, the goal is to build a sock company, the socks are intended to trigger a conversation, as in, “Hey dude, what’s up with the socks?” I view this from the standpoint of a business person. We will not build a foundation, we will build a self sustaining business, with a big-tent mission and vision. I think providing a quality product, a pair of colorful warm socks, allows anyone to get involved. And we do not go looking for donations or grants. And the socks will be a panoply of different colors, shapes, and patterns because every persons genetic code is different. (Unless you are a twin, but we’ll leave those facts aside.)
I am not a parent, by choice. But if I were a parent I would want to know the 3rd leading cause of death for ages 10 to 24 is suicide.
http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pub/youth_suicide.html
In part, the noted statistic tells another story, because if my sources are correct, the human brain does not fully develop until we reach the age of 25 years.
With social media I marvel at modern technology that allows for free and open communication. Yet, I continue to read articles from newspapers about teenagers taking their lives. I read about another one today from the NY Post. I got a sick feeling at the pit of my stomach, I wish I could have given her a pair of colorful, warm socks.
NS
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