“When I was 18 I went to New York City for the first time. Being young and stupid and from Dover Delaware. I thought I’d seen all I had to see. I sat one morning in my friend Ronnie’s apartment in Brooklyn and watched the sunrise out the window while everyone slept, smoked cigarettes, listened to PJ Harvey, and watched the city start to glow with sunlight. I was left with the humbling experience of realizing how big and strange the world was and how I nearly knew nothing about it. –M. A.”

“A true impact in my life… I turn 24 in 3 weeks and there are so many people, places, and things that I’ve come across that have moved me in one way or another. I must say that a key moment in my life is when I had enough courage to get onto my bike @ 10 years old & just ride… having been scared for years, I never had enough courage to overcome my fear. Yet one day I woke up & decided to start riding. I rode up & down the street yelling for everyone to watch & to get the joy I was feeling out of my mouth. The best part of the day was when my brother got in front of me, and being so inexperienced I didn’t know what to do or how to stop, so I ran him over. From there I knew no one or thing could stop me from trying & accomplishing something I wanted to do! –J. 7-21-05”

“There is a hill in central Vermont managed as wild blueberry habitat with steps taken to ensure the habitat remains suitable. Recently I was lucky enough to spend an afternoon there staring out at 35 acres of blueberry bushes and a beautiful panoramic view of the Green Mountains. While looking out from this blissful spot I realized how at peace I was. Partly because of the endless supply of free nutrition and partly because there were no stop lights, no highway, no cities, no anything really. Just harmony and peace and sharing. What a wonderful world all made possible by blueberries. Shame they don’t grow the world over. – I. 7-27-05”

“Ever since I can remember I have had a fetish with footwear. I think that shoes make the man. You can wear a t-shirt and jeans and a nice pair of shoes will set the entire outfit off. I have spent thousands of dollars on shoes that I only wear once or twice then I store in the closet just to bring out years later when knowone else has them anymore. The in vention of EBAY has made my addiction even worse. Logging on every night to see what’s new and what I can find from China, Japan wherever. Shoes are my life and I have spent thousands of dollars on them. For my 25th birthday I got a Michael Jordan tattoo on my ancle to compliment my shoes. I never knew that shoes could impact my life. My modoo is shoes make the man. Air Jordan ‘4 life. 7/30/05. – T. T.”

“Last year a buddy & myself flew to San Diego & rented a silver mustang. We stayed at a friends house & his porch overlooked the glittering lights of Tijuana Mexico. We decided to drive over the border & check it out but as we crossed past the border police we realized neither of us spoke any spanish which led to our 3 hour drive through back roads & slums of Mexico. When I tell this story to people they look horrified & amazed we lived. Two white boys in a silver stang have a good chance of getting shot I’m told. It was very scary… dirt highways, gangs of kids & dogs roaming around & gunfire in the distance. Wow, what a trip. –C.”

“Last time I was here I was masquerading as a cuben. This time, I’m taking in as myself. Incognito is not necessary when you generally go as unnoticed as I do. But the thing that has had the most major impact on my life has not changed. It is still traveling. I love to go new places and meet new people. Every time, I learn something about myself and about humanity. As of late, I have learned that traveling a mile or less can be as enlightening as traveling 1000’s of miles. It took a long journey and an understanding of people to see this. But now I know that if you look at everday as an adventure or day spent traveling, possibilities are endless. –D. D. ‘if D. D. wrote it, It’s gotta be true!’”

“When I saw my friend’s girlfriend go into seizures from an ecstacy overdose, it changed my view on the world of drugs forever. Her frail tiny body violently jerked on the hotel bed for the first time since I had embarked on a wild ride of sex, drugs & alcohol, I felt completely out of control – and I didn’t like it. I felt like a little girl, and I wanted my mom. But my mom wasn’t coming, and this girl was dying right in front of me. –V.”

“Moving to a new town is not always easy, in fact sometimes it is downright lonely and you recognize how much you miss your family + friends. How do you meet new people? How do you get your new circle of friends? Move into a complex that is next to your friendly neighborhood bar. In West Chester, that would be the Square Bar. They fed me more meals than my Mom. My new best friend found me at the Square Bar and introduced me to all of my ‘new’ family in West Chester. Complete with a Patriark + Matriark of the entire crew, I now have a family away from home and enjoy barbques, building projects and lots of love when I need it. Morale of the story is, don’t stay inside go out be yourself and maybe you will just find what you are looking for and need. –R. P., West Chester, PA”

“Sexuality is part of all Human Existence. Yet, we as human beings are so scared of not only our sexual nature but our curiosity and mysticism about the subject itself. Life is full of wonder and experience and at the core of that is our sexuality. To be human is to be sexual in any and all ways. –Dr. D. L. L., Sex therapist”

“LA JOYA IS SETTLED (IF THAT IS POSSIBLE 10 YRS AFTER CIVIL WAR) BETWEEN WHAT REMAINS OF THE JUNGLE, AN ACTIVE VOLCANO AND THE ONLY SOURCE OF WATER A RIVER BARELY ACCESSABLE BY A FOOTPATH. A FEW DOZEN ACRES OF MAIZE MAKE UP THE FOOD SUPPLY AND CASH CROP FOR 200 OR SO VILLAGERS. THE PEOPLE LIVE IN SHACKS MADE OF ALUMINUM AND FALLEN TREES. ANEMIC COWS AND DOGS ROME THROUGH THE VILLAGE. CLOTHIN IS MADE OR PURCHASED IN SAN SALVADOR AT STREET VENDERS WHO RECEIVE THEIR PRODUCTS FROM SWEAT SHOPS. THE HEAT IS SO OBTRUSIVE AND OPPRESSING. POSSIBLY A REMINDER OF PAST ‘EL JEFES’ THERE IS NOT ELECTRICITY OR RUNNING WATER, BUT PEOPLE HEAR THE NEWS BY COLLECTIVELY LISTENING TO A BOOMBOX POWERED BY A CAR BATTERY. TRANSPORT IS ONE PICK-UP TRUCK OWNE BY THE TOWN WHICH OFTE BREAKS DOWN 20 MILES FROM ‘CIVILIZATION’. EDUCATION CONTINUES IN ONE SCHOOL ROOM THROUGH 6TH GRADE. YET THE PEOPLE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO BE INFORMED OF GLOBAL, POLITICAL CLIMATE. ALL OF THESE THINGS CAN BE BOUGHT IN THE UNITED STATES. – M.”