How Does It Feel To Be Without A Home?
Bob Dylan’s song, Like a Rolling Stone, Sums it Up
“How does it feel, ah how does it feel?
To be on your own, with no direction home
Like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone
How does it feel, how does it feel?
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone”
I was thirteen years old when Bob Dylan wrote this song. Today is my birthday. I’m 73 years old. I had no idea how prophetic and relevant these lyrics would become.
Today, I have no home and no resources, and I am many miles away from my beloved children and grandchildren. I have become that Rolling Stone.
“When you ain’t got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You’re invisible now, you’ve got no secrets to conceal”
I’m not the only one who is homeless and struggling. And, I’m 73 years old. Who knows how much longer I will be alive? I can’t pretend everything is fine, and I don’t want to anymore.
I want to use the rest of my time on earth to lift people up, become a beacon of hope, and practice transparent, transformational love. I want to use my voice for everyone else that cannot.
I am committed to telling the truth and working for change. I want to leave the world a better place. If I have to sacrifice a little pride, then so be it. Perhaps, if we all dropped the facade that all is well, we might be able to do more good.
“You used to ride on a chrome horse with your diplomat
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
Ain’t it hard when you discovered that
He really wasn’t where it’s at
After he took from you everything he could steal”
As the wife of the CEO of a company backed by one of the most prestigious venture capital firms in Silicon Valley, I’ve seen the other side. Multi-million-dollar houses, meetings at ocean-side retreats, and stocks and warrants and promising IPOs.
Life was amazing … until it wasn’t.
Betrayals of those closest to me, the greed of company executives, and the misconduct of our stock broker and a rigged system, left me shattered. I grieved the loss of assets and trust. I understood that behavior without integrity creates ripples of hurt through generations.
Sixty years ago, Bob Dylan declared, “The times they are a-changin’”
Hope and optimism filled our heads and hearts. We wanted equal rights for women and people of color. We wanted more than an end to war; we wanted peace on earth. We wanted to be the best possible version of ourselves and love one another.
We marched for peace and justice and fed the poor. We made huge progress. But, it’s evident that there’s still so much more to be done.
So, how does it feel? I’m disappointed, and I’m scared.
But, I have children and grandchildren. I made promises to them and I intend to keep them.
I promised to live closer to my precious grandchildren, and I am working to make that reality come true. I have written books for children about the importance of values and hope to publish them soon.
I have shared my story about binding arbitration, and I will continue to seek justice and reverse this unfair legal practice.
I also feel grateful for my life, my loving family, and the support of my dearest friends.
Today, on my 73rd birthday, I promise to be brave, to speak the truth, and to contribute to creating a more compassionate and loving world.
To my darling grandchildren who may read this some day. I made a promise to you and I will do everything I can to keep it.
Lyrics to Like A Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan
Once upon a time you dressed so fine
Threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn’t you?
People call say ‘beware doll, you’re bound to fall’
You thought they were all kidding you
You used to laugh about
Everybody that was hanging out
Now you don’t talk so loud
Now you don’t seem so proud
About having to be scrounging your next meal
How does it feel, how does it feel?
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone
Ahh you’ve gone to the finest schools, alright Miss Lonely
But you know you only used to get juiced in it
Nobody’s ever taught you how to live out on the street
And now you’re gonna have to get used to it
You say you never compromise
With the mystery tramp, but now you realize
He’s not selling any alibis
As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes
And say do you want to make a deal?
How does it feel, how does it feel?
To be on your own, with no direction home
A complete unknown, like a rolling stone
Ah you never turned around to see the frowns
On the jugglers and the clowns when they all did tricks for you
You never understood that it ain’t no good
You shouldn’t let other people get your kicks for you
You used to ride on a chrome horse with your diplomat
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
Ain’t it hard when you discovered that
He really wasn’t where it’s at
After he took from you everything he could steal
How does it feel, how does it feel?
To be on your own, with no direction home
Like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone
Ahh princess on a steeple and all the pretty people
They’re all drinking, thinking that they’ve got it made
Exchanging all precious gifts
But you better take your diamond ring, you better pawn it babe
You used to be so amused
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
Go to him he calls you, you can’t refuse
When you ain’t got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You’re invisible now, you’ve got no secrets to conceal
How does it feel, ah how does it feel?
To be on your own, with no direction home
Like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone
If you want to learn more about my story, the links are below.
Please let me know how you feel about this. Your feedback is very much appreciated.
