About two years ago I took this trip, drove around the country. Before I left, my dad lectured me on being out after dark and talking to strangers. He provided me with a taser, a CB radio and a bootknife. I don’t think it occurred to him that he needed to warn me about picking up hitchhikers—he probably assumed that the whole “talking to strangers” bit covered a lot of ground.

The first person I picked up was a biker in the mountains of Idaho. There was massive construction on the road, so the line of cars (it was a little two-lane highway) had been stopped for awhile. Finally, after about an hour, the workers brought back the lead truck to crawl us through 14 miles of broken road. Before we even started out, the workers told Jesse, the biker, that he should bag it and go a different way—or hitch a ride. I was the closest vehicle, so I offered him a ride. Highly entertaining, he had me laughing the entire 45 minutes it took to traverse those 14 miles.

As the weeks progressed on my trip, I picked up a hitchhiker here and there, and was always better for it.

I’m glad you made a new friend… even if it was in an unconventional way.

First of all, I didn’t let him him in my car.

Second, I don’t recommend anyone else routinely talk to strangers or homeless people. (kids, don’t try this at home)

Do I realize the risk involved with talking with someone like herman? sure I do.

Maybe I was just sick of wondering who the person was behind the cardboard sign.

every day, herman stands at the corner with his sign where people pass him by trying not to look. Once in a while someone will feel pity and give him some money – probably praying that he won’t use it to buy booze.

it saddens me that herman really can’t be helped. He doesn’t want to be helped. He realizes that he’s where he is because he drinks. he’s gone through programs before.

today I met person named Herman.

P.s. herman, thanks for not bashing my head in and eating me with a side of fava beans.

In other words, we’d like the guest to live.

Don’t get yourself killed—or eaten.