Last Friday, I met with Mike from Peninsula Community Mental Health Center, at Bella Rosa, a local coffee shop. Mike was incredibly open and candid with me. The first time we spoke on the phone, he sounded a bit guarded as to my intent and I nervously stuttered through what I thought my intent was. It’s not so much the intent but the project outline which I get a better idea of each day, but last week was pretty vague. When I met Mike on Friday I had a much better answer for my intent and I was able to address what I felt were some hanging questions before the interview began.

Mike told me his life story from high school to present day, and included all of the good and the bad. Everything from getting caught with a fake ID and stolen beer in high school, to smoking marijuana and heavy drinking in Vietnam. My wife explained to me that his openness is part of being a counselor, acceptance and admittance. Regardless, the things he shared with me go much deeper than the average conversation or even interview.

In Vietnam, Mike’s job was in Intelligence and he aggregated data collected from field outposts. Also, Mike was a trained P.O.W. Interrogator, although he adds, “I was a terrible interrogator, my biggest problem was the cruelty to the Vietnamese people” referring to beatings and connecting electrodes from a field phone to the fingers of the prisoners and then cranking the generator – electrocution.

As I listened to Mike talk a few points really struck me:
“Philosophically, people don’t understand their potential for great evil or good. We are both good and evil,” Mike said this paraphrasing Jung.

Another feeling I encountered was the great injustice our country did to the soldiers and Marines returning from Vietnam. “I thought I hated this country. Our country turned against us” said Mike.

My original intent for interviewing Mike was to get background information on the counseling process and the center itself. However, after hearing his story and visualizing a more concrete story idea I think he may also be a “character” so to speak. Mike offered to approach his veterans counseling group about my story idea and see if anyone wanted to volunteer. As of this afternoon, Mike emailed saying that he has 4-5 veterans in Sequim who would be willing to be interviewed.

This project is picking up speed and I’m really excited. I’m excited for the connections I’m making in a community that I have strong feelings for, I’m excited for an opportunity to make a difference, and I’m excited that I’m learning a little about myself.

Kevin German will be in town next week and I hope to have an opportunity to talk with him about this project. On one hand I don’t want it to get too large an unwieldy, thus not having a story, and on the other, I don’t want to leave anyone out.