I wrote before about the death of my friend Zach. Apparently there's a movement afoot to get Anna recognized for her heroic efforts to make something good of the situation, despite her ongoing battle with the monsters who run Baltimore city. Please take a moment to nominate her.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25066703/
The link for the support website for her and Zach is at the top right corner of the blog.
Thanks!
Showing posts with label Zach Sowers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Zach Sowers. Show all posts
8/19/2008
7/19/2008
A friend in need
I started thinking about this trip and doing research about three years ago. A neighbor of mine named Zach Sowers put me in touch with his friend Pat, who had recently returned from an extended backpacking trip. Meeting Pat really inspired me. But I still kept finding reasons to not do it, rather than figuring out a way to make it happen.
My career was going nowhere, but I didn't know what other career I might like to pursue. I was living in a crappy house in a crappy neighborhood in a crappy town, but I didn't know where I might like to move. I was in a serious rut.
A little over a year ago, and just a few months after he and his wife Anna were married, Zach was attacked by four teenagers in front of his house and beaten into a coma. It happened two blocks from my house. I walked past their house three times a day, every day, when I walked my dogs.
The wretched human offal who run the criminal justice system in Baltimore cut deals with all of the attackers. They told Anna with a straight face that there was no way a Baltimore city jury would convict four African-American teenagers. Part of the deal being that they wouldn't face additional charges if Zach passed away. Sadly, this happened a few months ago.
Friends of Zach's created a support website, which I linked to when I created this blog. When Zach passed away I removed the link. My mistake.
I was quite angry to learn that Anna is still battling with the city. So I have reposted the link to Zach's website. Please read it and do whatever you can to help.
http://zachsowers.com/
When people ask me why I decided to take the trip at this point in my life I usually say "The time was right" or something similarly vague. But the precipitating event was when Zach was attacked. I thought that if I was waiting for a sign that it was time to see the world, that was it.
At the time I was recovering from back surgery, and it took another five months or so to get back to a normal routine. I knew as soon as I was able I would go. I can say in all seriousness that if I hadn't met Zach I wouldn't be traveling now. That sounds a bit selfish, I know, but given the choice I'd rather still be in Baltimore and seeing him in the dog park every day.
My career was going nowhere, but I didn't know what other career I might like to pursue. I was living in a crappy house in a crappy neighborhood in a crappy town, but I didn't know where I might like to move. I was in a serious rut.
A little over a year ago, and just a few months after he and his wife Anna were married, Zach was attacked by four teenagers in front of his house and beaten into a coma. It happened two blocks from my house. I walked past their house three times a day, every day, when I walked my dogs.
The wretched human offal who run the criminal justice system in Baltimore cut deals with all of the attackers. They told Anna with a straight face that there was no way a Baltimore city jury would convict four African-American teenagers. Part of the deal being that they wouldn't face additional charges if Zach passed away. Sadly, this happened a few months ago.
Friends of Zach's created a support website, which I linked to when I created this blog. When Zach passed away I removed the link. My mistake.
I was quite angry to learn that Anna is still battling with the city. So I have reposted the link to Zach's website. Please read it and do whatever you can to help.
http://zachsowers.com/
When people ask me why I decided to take the trip at this point in my life I usually say "The time was right" or something similarly vague. But the precipitating event was when Zach was attacked. I thought that if I was waiting for a sign that it was time to see the world, that was it.
At the time I was recovering from back surgery, and it took another five months or so to get back to a normal routine. I knew as soon as I was able I would go. I can say in all seriousness that if I hadn't met Zach I wouldn't be traveling now. That sounds a bit selfish, I know, but given the choice I'd rather still be in Baltimore and seeing him in the dog park every day.
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