Fast Food Nation

   I have had the unique experience of watching what is called the "fast-food" industry grow.  As a child, fast food meant something that mom would whip up in 30 minutes or less, now it means meals served up in 30 seconds or less.  One of my earliest memories was a stop at Mc Donald's for hamburgers, fries and a soda.  I was about 5 or 6 years old, and as we entered the parking lot, I noticed a sign that read, "Over 4 Billion Served."  "Wow," I thought, they serve balloons here, but why only 4, why not one for every customer?  Since we lived in a farming community, going to Mc Donald's was a treat that only happened two or three times a year, if that, since it was located only in the larger cities, and not in our small town.  The only other place that could compare, would have been a visit to the local A & W Drive-In, which still used car hops.  Watching them zip around on roller-skates from car to car, taking orders and coming back, trays full of great food and of course, their root beer floats, as "oldies" played over the parking lot speakers is something that I will never forget. 

  Fast foward 40 years, and the fast-food industry has certainly changed.  Go anywhere in America and you are more likely than not to find a Mc Donald's, Arby's, Burger King, Jack in The Box, or a Carl's Jr. on most corners, if not across the street from each other.  From limited menues of burgers, fries and soda only, we now have low fat foods, salads, shakes, smoothies and kid's menu's...and the list goes on and on.  The fast food industry has changed, to not only find a place in our society, but has spread out to several other countries.  Japan, England, Spain, and even China, to name a few.  I would not be surprised to find plans for a Mc Donald's if we ever build a community on another planet.  "I'd like the Low Gravity double cheeseburger, with a side of Space Spuds and an Asteroid soda to go please."

   I do enjoy an occasional trip to my local fast food eatery, but it is not as big a deal as when I was a kid.  Of course, then it was a treat, something to look foward to, now, I find myself oblivious to the forest of signs begging me to "Enjoy a break today", or eat chicken that is "Finger licking good".  Maybe it's just a sign of my growing older,  to the point that I am beginning to sound like my father...."Back in my days....."

The Things I Have Done, The Things I Have Seen

I have lived an interesting 50+ years of life, and have accomplished much. I grew up a migrant farmworker in a family of 6 brothers/sisters.  I later was involved in farmworkers rights demonstrations where I met and marched with Cesar Chavez. I have been on my own since I was 13 years old, living where I could and with who ever let me camp out on their sofa or spare room. At 18, I joined the California Consevation Corps, where I became a wild land/forest firefighter, worked on river clearing projects and was dispatched all over California to assist in rescue operations for fire, flood and other natural disasters that happened.  It was then that I rode in a plane, (A C-130) rode in a helicopter to a remote fire line, (in Northern California) and had my first skydiving experiences.  I later became a business owner, including bar-owner and a restaurant manager. I have also been a heavy equipment operator, a taxi cab dispatcher and a cab driver, to name a few of my past professions. I have also walked down the dark side of life which involved a rather long run of drug/alcohol abuse and the lifestyle that it intails.  I am not proud of it, but it was, what it was, and although they weren't the best years of my life, I learned survival skills that would later serve me in ways I could not even begin to imagine. 




At this time, I have found a new lease on life, as I am approaching my 5th year clean from drugs. I have used my years of “research in the field”, as the catalyst to a new career as a Drug/Alcohol counselor. I have learned that no matter the mistakes, you can start over as long as you have the "ganas," or the Desire to do so.  I entered college at the age of 48, and although it is tough at times, it is worth every minute of every headache, of every class, assignment and test. I am a full time student, with dreams and goals that include eventually earning my Master’s Degree in Addiction Therapy.



As for the future, who knows what God has in store for me, but I do have a dream of opening up a fully functional ranch that uses equine and canine therapy for at risk youths. This will be a fully operational ranch, including land for crops, animals, and equipment to run the ranch. I would also like to travel a bit and after receiving my Masters Degree, return to teach the ADS classes at Oxnard College.



To those of you who wonder if this is all worth it, the schooling, the hectic trials of life, and the day to day things that life throws in your way I can only say, Hang in there….it is worth it, never give up, never give in, and never settle for second best.  As Kasey Kasum says..."Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars."