The Start of Something Big

The A-team, Kung Fu, Renegade and Quantum Leap all have the same basic premise. A man or team with a mysterious or criminal past goes from life to life, city to city, helping those who are unable to help themselves. I fully understand why people do not put on capes and fight crime like Batman (death, dismemberment, jail), but I am curious why no one I know has yet to form their own A-Team or start wandering the country like David Caradine in Kung Fu. It would be relatively easy and not be too expensive of a journey to take (if you don't buy a black A Team van or a Renegade Harley). If you were helping someone solve their problems, asking them for a couch to sleep on and maybe a sandwich would not be rude and would be to be a more than fair trade for services rendered. The only logistic really hampering this quest is transportation.

My idea is as follows. I have recently quit my job flying for the Army and have nothing but time to kill. If I take two thousand dollars from my meager savings and buy a forty five day rail pass for Amtrack I can live as a charitable gypsy. With nothing more than a few dollars a day I will travel from city to city helping the less fortunate in a totally kick ass A-Team manner. Each town will be at most a five day excursion and at the least a two day trip. Before I get to the city I will choose a charity and hopefully find someone to host me for the time I am there. If I can not find a couch to crash on then I will find a floor or a street corner to call home.

Why am I doing this? Because the world needs a Lorenzo Llamas without a trench coat. Also there are so many local groups fighting an uphill battle trying to make their homes better that could use the publicity and a helping hand.

Dallas will be first because I know there is a couch for me to sleep on there and also Dallas has a strong yet struggling charitable community (Charity Navigator). Also there is a great place in Dallas called Jonathan's Place (link) that helps children who have been abused have a safe and enjoyable place to call home for a while. I am more than excited to see what we can do as a community to make this already amazing place even better.

The things I hope we can do for Jonathan's Place
1. There are a ton of bikes there. A coordination of local bike shops and mechanics (used to be one) to tune and fix all the bikes as well as provide plenty of tools and tubes so they can stay in good shape.
2. Musical Playground Equipment. This is a great way for the younger kids to play outside and a fun way to be introduced to music. Example
3. Some good video games for the older kids. That's what they want and that's what we can give them.

For now until the trip begins (Approximately the second week of March) anyone can help by going to Jonathan's Needs List and donating now.