133
Oct 4/89
M A D D .
Suite 577
5 Town 'n Country Village
San Jose Ca 95128
Dear Friends:
I enclose my check for $l0.00.
Drunken driving accidents leave me with a mixture of anger
and horror. Not just for the deaths but the suffering of
the injured and the grief of those who have lost loved ones.
It is depressing to think that it might get worse.
About 40 years ago a truck driver came to me. He had been
having minor truck accidents. I asked him, "What are you
thinking about when you are driving a 30 ton truck for
endless miles". He replied. "I cannot make up my mind,
whether to shoot myself or shoot my wife."
This happened when I was practicing in Hudson N.Y. which is
on the Hudson River. The patient lived about 80 miles South
on the river. He was a Jugoslav, who are mountain people
and often very intense. He was dark and handsome. Did
not communicate well.
He told me that his wife was blond. They had 5 children.
He would come home exhausted. She thought he was two
timing.
Part or most of his trouble was too much overtime and
careless nutrition. His company would rather overwork their
drivers instead of hiring new ones. When tired he used to
stop for coffee and donuts. (I believe that coffee
contributes to driving accidents. When a driver is tired, he
needs rest and possibly nourishment. No stimulants.)
I gave him a long talk about his life style. Less overtime,
better nutrition. Cut the coffee. better communication with
his wife. Better understanding of himself. {I had dealt
with many Jugoslavs. They are a special breed. I
explained all this to him. I also told him how to get along
with small blonds. I told him to come back and bring his
wife. I called his company and advised them to give him a
week off.
His wife turned out to be a bright attractive woman. I told
her what makes Jugoslavs tick. It California, it is
presently in style to consider all humans to be the same as
everyone else. But mountain people are mountain people and
the politicians cannot change that. The small differences in
people may not be great but can be very significant.
They both appeared happy about my help. I was hopeful that
they could both share a reasonably happy life. They
appeared to be very fine people. Their children will receive
good genes. The ingredients are there for a wonderful family
with fine children and grandchildren. I often think of
them and wish them well.
This adventure gave me an opportunity to add something
cheerful and inspiring to my permanent memory bank. I think
of them often. When see a big truck approaching I hope
someone loves him
It was at this time that concluded that an unloved driver
was a dangerous driver.
I used to work with the Veterans Administration Hospitals
in Palo Alto and Menlo Park. I talked to hundreds of
veterans. Sometimes I was very helpful. With veterans
who had broken down mentally, I often would say {You are a
garbage collector. you have been putting a lot of garbage in
your memory bank and reprocessing it. This digs it in
deeper. On the otherhand, told them that I was a jewel
collector. I look for the Jewels in the garbage.}
I advised them to think of some pleasant event or heroic
deed, and tell it to 3 people. If some garbage sneaks into
your sub-conscious, one cannot erase it but you can bury it.
Above all, do not reprocess the stuff.
The television etc. will try to dominate your mind but fight
them off. It is a free country. Your memory bank belongs to
you. I once wrote an article entitles, HOW TO KEEP FROM
GOING NUTS... It is not easy but one must try.
I told many disturbed veterans. "Don't try to be l00% sane
today, you will lose your mind. Aim at being l5% nutty.
You will feel more at home with society. But try to keep in
style with the rest of us.}
