Reply #16: Yeah I hear you.

[phildo]

I did a couple years of abuse recovery volunteer work after wandering into Big Brothers. It is a weird, weird world out there.

Happy times helping folks, though. Sort of miss it, but like you say, you cannot live it. Got real human for the experience, so that is a blessing -- considering I started as an Uber Engineer and Army Officer (real jerk :) )

Cool part was I met Mrs. Phil in that -- she is a Social Worker type, too. Said she had to meet me because she had never seen a guy be so loving to the hurt kids and folks. Me. A (mostly) former jerk. Best comment I have gotten in my life.

We have three kids, now, too. And tend to be sort of freaky protective, too.

Some day we might do work in an outdoor camp for kids.