Nate

Nate and I met about five months ago, and we found so many common interests, we knew we needed to have a coffee date sometime. Like me, his dad was in the Air Force, so he grew up moving every few years and being a “new kid” over and over. He lived for many years in Massachusetts, where his parents still live today. He has long been interested in southern Africa. He trained in radio broadcasting and has always been interested in theatre, though he made his living as a paramedic in Emergency Medical Services. He and his wife moved to Portland last year after he retired, and they're looking for friends here. 

Till today we hadn’t seen each other unmasked. We delighted in being able to see, as well as feel, each other’s smiles. We met today because he’s planning a series of podcasts dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD). As an EMS, he dealt with people experiencing trauma or re-experiencing it; he treated people with addictions that were coping mechanisms for their PTSD; and he dealt with whole generations of families affected by trauma. “It’s true,” he said, “that everyone has a story, but people coping with trauma often have spellbinding stories, stories that others need to hear, as a context for their own trauma. So I see these podcasts as a service to people who tell their stories as well as to people who hear those stories. And to me, of course. I benefit from every story I hear.” 

He wondered if I would consider serving as a listener, giving him some honest criticism—where he can cut or trim, where to give it more variation or a twist? Would I?