Do Kids Party Out Here?

A few of us sunrise photographers were talking when Steven approached us with the simple question, 'Do kids party out here?'

He found a bag with drug paraphernelia and of all things, homework. We called the police and they took the bag away.

Being good-natured photographers, we cracked jokes about our find, but underlying the event is something more serious.

A former co-worker of mine at IBM who passed away from cancer while we worked together taught me an indelible lesson.

He was from Hawaii and loved to tell me stories about conscientious objection to the establishment.

'Tim,' Bob says to me, 'Nana i ke kumu. Always remember this native Hawaiian phrase.'

'What does it mean?'

'Look to the source. Never rest until you find the source.'

The phrase was wonderful during my long tenure as a diagonstic (or forensic) computer support person. For example, an effective diagnostics guy always separates the symptoms from the root cause.

And with the backpack that we found today, we should look to the source. We should be vigilant that drug abuse has a root cause and unless the root cause is understood and addressed, the problem will continue.

One of the most important things is for everyone to ask themselves, 'Are my basic needs met today? Nutrition. Sleep. Emotional. Security. And so on.'

Chances are that the poor boy who left homework in his backpack is deficient in meeting one or more basic needs.

Bob's voice lasts inside, 'Always remember, Tim. Nana i ke kumu.'