isn`t it amazing how one person, sharing one idea, at the right time and place can change the course of your life`s history? this is certainly what happened in my life. when i was 14, i was hitchhiking from houston, texas, through el paso on my way to california. i was following my dream, journeying with the sun. i was a high school dropout with learning disabilities and was set on surfing the biggest waves in the world, first in california and then in hawaii, where i would later live.

　　upon reaching downtown el paso, i met an old man, a bum, on the street corner. he saw me walking, stopped me and questioned me as i passed by. he asked me if i was running away from home, i suppose because i looked so young. i told him, "not exactly, sir," since my father had given me a ride to the freeway in houston and given me his blessings while saying, "it is important to follow your dream and what is in your heart. son. "the bum then asked me if he could buy me a cup of coffee. i told him, "no, sir, but a soda would be great." we walked to a corner malt shop and sat down on a couple of swiveling stools while we enjoyed our drinks.after conversing for a few minutes, the friendly bum told me to follow him. he told me that he had something grand to show me and share with me. we walked a couple of blocks until we came upon the downtown el paso public library.

　　we walked up its front steps and stopped at a small information stand. here the bum spoke to a smiling old lady, and asked her if she would be kind enough to watch my things for a moment while he and i entered the library. i left my belongings with this grandmotherly figure and entered into this magnificent hall of learning.the bum first led me to a table and asked me to sit down a