The Park Bench
In a complete daze and state of shock over the loss of his brother and the business, Giffird began walking for days. With no sleep, he wandered aimlessly, not eating and getting more depressed with each passing day. Finally, completely exhausted, he laid down on a park bench in downtown San Francisco.
Looking back on this time years later, Giffird realized his emotional pain was due to more than just the immediate crises. It also stemmed from buried emotions and trauma from his military service, and the guilt (real or imagined) he harbored for the many deaths of his close friends and fellow Marines.
He started drinking alcohol every day. Angry at himself, Giffird realized he was abusing alcohol, just like his father. He still managed to survive and support himself by polishing shoes and selling newspapers. But he wandered the streets of downtown San Francisco asking people for odd jobs, just as he had done as a little boy in the Fort Worth Stockyards.
In a complete daze and state of shock over the loss of his brother and the business, Giffird began walking for days. With no sleep, he wandered aimlessly, not eating and getting more depressed with each passing day. Finally, completely exhausted, he laid down on a park bench in downtown San Francisco.
Looking back on this time years later, Giffird realized his emotional pain was due to more than just the immediate crises. It also stemmed from buried emotions and trauma from his military service, and the guilt (real or imagined) he harbored for the many deaths of his close friends and fellow Marines.
He started drinking alcohol every day. Angry at himself, Giffird realized he was abusing alcohol, just like his father. He still managed to survive and support himself by polishing shoes and selling newspapers. But he wandered the streets of downtown San Francisco asking people for odd jobs, just as he had done as a little boy in the Fort Worth Stockyards.