“Dear Charger…”. Notes on the road with #ProjectJeb, supporting suicide prevention (Part 1).
Picture: Dan Perrins parks his cart at Queens Park, Toronto, with Ms Chief, while on the road with #ProjectJeb.
Part 1: Rain...
Dear Charger,
Yesterday, Ms. Chief and I woke, got ready to leave where we bunked up, and as we were leaving Halton police showed up.
Bummer, some AC/DC was playing, I had it cranked, was heading towards a hill.
There was a short chase...all of 5 feet, we didnt have your... charge, Charger.
Wellness checks are common given what I do.
2 cars 3 officers by the side of the road having a 5 min conversation.
1 officer was in disbelief in regards to the statistics.
I dared him to Google it. I spoke to the other officer as he did and let her know this was my 10th walk, been as far as Ottawa and a ton of places in between.
A third officer pulled up and engaged as well.
I laid out everything about #ProjectJeb the 4 pillars and we briefly discussed each of those pillars.
Our interaction ended with Ms. Chief being deputized and me turning them officers into Jeb-i warriors by giving them some stickers and a 1 page handout explaining ProjectJeb.
Up the hill Ms. Chief and I went on our mission to find coffee!
“I urged the man to look out for them young bucks. Substance abuse may call out to them, a slow suicide if you will.”
Within an hour I had a coffee and Ms. Chief a timbit.
We chatted politely with those who wished to engage and met some other puppers.
We even met a fan of yours Charger from Hagersville, while in Burlington.
We got around buddy, didn't we?
Ms. Chief was happy amongst her people, barking.
After that it was supply time.
Some cart stuff, then some food stuff, then some road stuff accompanied by loud music and terrible singing stuff.
Ms. Chief aint the singer you were buddy.
We popped in Spencer Smith Park to do a couple of critter comfort upgrades (bungy cord for Ms. Chief's leash she do love to chase them leaves).
And a repair, meh an untested cart... not all that unexpected.
From there we watched the weather, some was brewing and wanted to be close to some cover if I needed it.
An hour later the weather had cleared and a UK gentleman stopped to talk.
He lost his daughter.
She left behind 2 sons.
We talked some hard facts.
Close proximity to one increases the odds of lightning strike twice or even thrice.
I urged the man to look out for them young bucks.
Substance abuse may call out to them, a slow suicide if you will.
From there it was on the hunt for another coffee, and another and another.
Folks would honk or shout out their support as they were pulling out of the coffee shops.
I Shared your water Charger. Them homeless folks looked thirsty.
I know you'd approve.
It was at one of our last stops Charger where things got a lil tough.
We met a woman, she had a bulldog I think you would have liked.
A cutie!
“Plenty of troubles along the way though. It's pretty dark the further you go into the city, lots of folks losing hope.”
But that woman Charger she had a terrible tragedy roll through her life.
You know the kind.
Her high-school sweetheart and husband of 20 plus years.
We talked for a bit.
I hope she does OK.
He's only been gone about a year she said.
“When it happened I just wanted to warn everybody”.
With passion she said. And with a profound sad look in her eyes.
Miss you buddy.
Part 2: Baseball!!!
Dear Charger,
Well buddy we made Toronto to cheer on the Blue Jays!
I cut a lot of miles off our route this year to do it buddy, but to cheer on our boys and interact with the crowds was worth it.
Plenty of troubles along the way though.
It's pretty dark the further you go into the city, lots of folks losing hope.
I made sure to share your water rations though.
Them homeless folk appreciate it. And Ms Chief has made more than one less-fortunate's day.
Their eyes light up just like they did with you.
You puppers always know what to say to those struggling folk.
Wisdom in dog years makes it look like child's play.
Anyways Charger,
You remember Mike?
You know the guy who used to play ball and stick and plastic bottle with you sometimes when you were visiting Bella.
You know Mike was a big Blue Jays fan, right?
Baseball!!!
You know that crazy ball stick chase game us two legged critters play?
I know you remember the last time we saw Mike.
Yah I'm still pretty sad about that too.
Well at the Jays game there was some pretty knowledgeable sports folk.
Reporting crews they call them.
Well one of them was close to Ms. Chief and I.
So when they weren't busy I went over to the crew and spoke of Mike's love for the Jay's and how he we found him that June morning.
That news crew even though extremely busy took a moment of their time to remember a Jays fan couldn't be there to cheer them on anymore.
I know there were plenty more who couldn't cheer on our boys this year.
The first game was beautiful buddy. The Jays crushed the Dodgers.
Lots of curious folk saw us from across the street, Charger.
Ms. Chief and I turned a lot of heads that first night.
We handed out plenty of life-saving lottery tickets too!
Some bound for out of province!
Picture: The Project Jeb stickers
Imagine that, eh Charger? Something you were a huge part of for the last 9 years has gone outside of the province.
Alright Charger gotta sign off for now.
Need some sleep buddy.
You and Jeb play nice.
Don't you worry guys, Ms. Chief will keep me in line and make sure I keep my rabies shots up to date.
Part 3: That evil darkness
Hey Charger,
You find that R.J. fella and help find some peace?
I know buddy, it's nasty out here.
Evil I say, me old wingman.
“It bothered me greatly Charger, it still does. A LOT, A GOD DAMN FUCK OF A LOT.”
Well Charger where were we...
After the Jays lost, Charger, Ms. Chief and I were walking our way back up from the waterfront.
And a woman stop us Charger.
I know you understand that when that happens it is usually the worst news.
Charger and Jeb, guys it was beyond worst.
Remember when we took a stroll through Fergus?
Yup lots of shattered souls and communities because we ignore half of society's health.
Well Charger big guy, that woman she lost her son.
And then she told me of a place so dark and full of desperation, 10 year olds are deciding life aint worth it.
I couldn't believe it either, Charger.
There was more darkness Charger, I was told of pictures of three friends and only one still alive.
Charger I have never heard of such evil things eating up communities, but it's happening.
Children younger than you were when you had to leave.
10 Charger, I know. Unbelievable.
And yet...
Well Charger you know me, everytime she spoke of grief, I added more of our life saving lottery tickets to bring back home with her.
It bothered me greatly Charger, it still does.
A LOT, A GOD DAMN FUCK OF A LOT.
We spent an hour talking, Charger.
After that, Charger, we just slow walked around Toronto.
Lots of folks giving us the thumbs up and a honk of the horn showing support.
One day Carger we parked it about five blocks down from Queens Park.
Lots of 2 legged critters passing and commenting.
A couple of them suit and tie guys. You know them Charger, they dress as sharp as your fur suit made you look.
Anyways Charger they dropped a care package off for us.
You bet me and Ms. Chief were living life a lil high on the possum that night.
Why we even had duck.
You bet Ms. Chief had her happy tail dance on turbo wag when she got a whiff of our dinner.
After that Ms. Chief and I spent the night in Allen Gardens.
You remember the first time we stayed there?
Yah I know I looked pretty silly with a tarp over my head standing there trying to keep us dry, as the downpour formed a small lake where we stood.
We had a good sleep there. And when we woke we made 4 new friends.
They all got their life saving lottery tickets.
We've been lucky Charger.
One of our new friends he served Charger.
He seen that evil darkness buddy.
More than once.
“We had a wonderful game Charger. I lost the game but I really won. That game took my mind away from the hell that is north of us”.
Well Alex has been keeping us company and he even charged our batteries up for us.
Them army folk Charger, they help even when they are no longer in service.
I don't know Charger. Maybe they got some puppers DNA in them but they always help.
Yup Alex charged our batteries up for us.
The other young gentleman who has helped charge my batteries up wanted to play me a game of chess.
I know buddy, an old fart like me thinking about playing some chess?
Well Charger I gotta say it was just what Dr. Doggo ordered.
And it worked buddy. Gave me a break from the dark carnage we absorb letting people get them tragedies off their chest.
Yes I know big guy it's you furry friends who do the heavy lifting in that department.
But a game of chess did sound nice Charger and so we played.
Yah I know I am out of practice for over a decade.
We had a wonderful game Charger.
I lost the game but I really won.
That game took my mind away from the hell that is north of us in the Thunderbay area.
A hell so dark it causes children to lose all hope.
Yup I won buddy, I got a slice of peace through the game.
A couple of other things happened Charger. Got my law hackles up it did.
For game 3 Charger, Ms Chief pulled me to Toronto city hall, Nathan Phillips Square to watch the away games.
I know Mike was there with us buddy, cheering his heart out for our local stick ball chase heros.
But City Hall didn't want us there.
You bet I got uppity Charger.
I asked for paper explaining what law was being broken and I want it in writing.
Told them innocent lambs sent out to do some cowardly supervisor's dirty work to send out the supervisor.
Well Charger 3 supervisors later, and we watched the game.
I know silly city staff. Did they really think they could bully us?
And then it happened again Charger, at Allen Gardens.
Some cowardly supervisor sent out another lamb.
I still got no paper from the City, Charger.
It would be interesting. I wonder how the Canadian government would feel about me putting on public court record they discriminate against men's health?
Yah I know I have been pondering that situation for about a decade now.
And it is so easily provable with two search terms put into the govt of Canada website.
Anyways Charger that second supervisor who sent out a lamb to try and bully us gave up easy.
And I enjoyed a game of chess, and a break in the action.
I upped your water rations again Charger. Them homeless are thirsty. And I don't care about carrying a little extra physical weight.
It's like a feather compared to the emotional weights we carry on these walks.
Today is a rain day buddy so I picked us some prime real estate.
We'll talk again soon buddy. Ms. Chief has been working her magic too.
Lots of fur therapy passed around.
(End of Part 1).
Project Jeb continues on the road for the first week of November, with Part 2 of this story coming soon.
If you have been impacted by the suicide of someone close to you, or thoughts of suicide, phone Samaritans on 116 123 (UK & Ireland), who are open 24 hours per day, every day of the year. In Canada phone or text 9-8-8. Other sources of support can be found here.
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Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy, legal advice, or other professional opinion. Never disregard such advice because of this article or anything else you have read from the Centre for Male Psychology. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of, or are endorsed by, The Centre for Male Psychology, and we cannot be held responsible for these views. Read our full disclaimer here.
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