If it isn't on Paper

26^th October 2016

My Dear (health related employer),

I have a BA in Psychology from CSU Fullerton and have spend four years of my life working with the homeless population of Hollywood and where as you may think this experience is irrelevant to your work I can assure you that it is very similar. I most often dealt with cannabis but other drugs were common issues at this work.

It was considered very important to document activities and problem behaviors on the part of clients. There were Case Managers at my facility that in a span of ninety days would get notes from no other person than myself. I will admit that I have been accused of over documenting, but that is only because I believe the work is so important.  Further, I believe that if it is not on paper than it did not happen so I write everything that happens down.

I’ve talked clients down from suicide, watched over clients experiencing withdrawal, and called for medical aid in dealing with clients who have overdosed. In addition, I’ve spend my whole life working with a mentally disabled member of my family.    

What you get with me is a man who can stand high pressure situations. People have been entrusting me with their lives for nearly two decades now in the field of security and I never let them down.

Best,

Richard Leland Neal

My Father- Bernie Sanders

Something Stronger

11^th June 2012

Dear Cassi,

Today I saw the doctor again and got a stronger sleeping pill. There is a hollow feeling in my chest with the acceptance of this medication, but what can I do? I need to sleep and sleep is denied me. I feel as if I’m betraying some trust with myself taking these things. I’m now on the largest dose of SSRI that they will proscribe for my medication. The doctor said that I should feel energized, but I simply do not.

My old man was a pill pusher and so taking these things offends me because of him. He horded these things and thought that all the answers lived in those little vials growing dusty and cracked in his pink box that had once held my mother’s makeup.

I know that the pill can do no more than simply help, and I have been told that the same recovery can be made without them so long as someone is willing to wait another ten years to recover. No, these pills will be a part of my life until I resolve the issues in my head. The nature of my problem is long lasting and requires cognitive restructuring.

I need to reassign emotions to the events of my life. How do you un-feel? How is it possible to take the natural feelings of a man and dash them into the world of passable? I’ve chosen to laugh at a good amount of my pain because laughing is better than crying. Well, no, I never cried, I just got angry. Laughing is better than getting angry as well. It’s better for your heart. Anger causes heart disease.

Live healthy, little sister,

Richard Leland Neal

Letter to Counselor

This is a forum post I wrote a day ago to a counselor talking about her problem client. She hasn’t responded so I don’t know if she found my comments useful.

Dear Counselor

This fellow you’re working on is a grown baby because he had no strong role models and he clearly needs to find a few. His father could be enabling and the son’s refusal to call him by his parental role is indicative of abandonment issues.

I can only say that he needs to be in group therapy so he can learn that he is not the only person in this world with problems and that his father needs to “man up,” or “parent up” to be PC, and stop enabling his son’s acting out.

In addition, I would have to ask if he ever reached out to his mother. She doesn’t have to love him but she is a part of him and he should help things along. Ask him to write letters to his mother, real paper letters, and bring them in and read them to you. Hopefully you can get him to a point where he wants to have something good to say. His mother will not come save him, but she might want to be a part of his life if she can be proud of him.

In any case putting his feelings down may help to lance the fester and start the healing process. He can use these letters for a blog later.

Another thing you could try is sessions with his dad where you toss a ball around. Sounds funny but it forces him to engage and concentrate.

Take everything I say with a grain of salt. You have a good deal more experience than I.

Richard Leland Neal

The Nature of Forgiveness

A good amount is said about forgiveness in this world, and I’m one of those folks who needs to have an idea of when it’s time. This is what I think, and you can tell me if I’m right.

17^th November 2011

Dear Cassi,

   

Something happened at work on my second day that struck a note with me. I was manning the front desk alone, and I had no business doing so as I was still training, when one of the managers came out training another new employee.

   

A conversation was had of which I can give little detail, but the subject of forgiveness came up. My take on is that you should only forgive those who admit that they were wrong and pledge to right things.

   

If a person stole and would not return their plunder with interest, then you cannot forgive them. In this regard we must understand first that everyone makes mistakes, and second that it is so much easier to harm than to heal. Those who freely admit that they were wrong, are sorry, and will work to make it up to us are worthy of forgiveness.

   

The interesting thing about my argument was that it brought a tear to the manager’s eye. I found it strange that a man who had worked around so much suffering could be so easily moved. My words were not profound or eloquent. I would even call them rushed and incomplete, but I think my point was made.

   

I’ve been told that you should forgive four your own sake. That bad idea was hatched from those who are consumed by their anger. We forgive the dead because they have no more option of redemption. For those of us still living we should place in the nature of our resolve the understanding that forgiveness comes at the price of honesty and hard work. It is as much a crime to forgive the unworthy as it is for them to transgress. All forgiving the unworthy will do is give them leave to be bad people once again.

Stay safe, Cassi,

Richard Leland Neal

Fools and Believers

I recall this situation and think it is far more interesting than the letter I wrote. Little known to me that the person I was writing to had no intention of putting my work on stage. It turns out that this person had a policy that only play writes from as far from the college as possible would have their work produced.

Given that the recipient of this letter was a Theater Teacher at a community college, and that we pay this person to better the students they teach I have to call that dereliction of duty.

In the classroom I have found so many little tyrants that I can no longer count them. Education loses its usefulness when the educators preach their gospel and declare a private kingdom. We end up with fools and believers rather than thinkers and doers.

31^st October 2006

Dear (Community) College,

I’m submitting this script at the insistent request of some of my colleagues. I can only hope that their praise of my work comes from honesty rather than friendship, but one can never tell. If nothing else you should find the material different and engaging. 

I wrote this play with a large stage in mind and in such a way that it would not bore designers. However, I believe the special effects can be omitted and up to seven characters can be removed without damaging the script. In truth the reasoning behind suck a large cast as this was to give all of the “cat fish men,” as my readers have come to call them, speaking roles.

One of the strongest aspects of this play is that the scenes run in two directions in time, odd scenes moving forward and even moving backward. This gives the play a mystery feel with a “what did they do?” to go along with the “who done it?”

Enjoy,

Richard Leland Neal

Dear Theatre Instructor at (State College)

This is a letter I sent to my theater teachers by email. It’s not the most telling of letters, but If I want to put these out on a regular basis I can’t be that picky.

5th January 2007

Dear Theatre Instructor at (State College),

My name is Richard Neal and if you are receiving this E-mail I’m trying to add your class. I’m a transfer student from (a junior college) and if you have any questions about me you might want to ask (the set construction teacher) who has been a teacher there for years and knows me reasonably well. I’ve taken theatre craft, Stagecraft, makeup, costuming and scene painting at (the junior college). I have written two full-length plays and I will be attending (the state college) for Lighting and Sound.

Q: You slacker, why didn’t you just add my class when everyone else did?

A: Good question! There was a small error with my registration, and the admissions department couldn’t remember If I had holds or not. It should be all cleared up now, and everything should be in order.

Q: So, what do you need from me?

A: I’m glad you asked. It would be nice if you could tell me what chance I stand of getting in your class. If the answer is ‘slim to none’ I need to plan accordingly, and if the answer is “yes” then any thing you can tell me about your class would be helpful. If you would like me to see you before the first class meeting E-mail me back with the hours you will be available.

Here comes the part you’re not going to like. I work full time and often have to work over time. This is not the end of the world for my education plans. I wrote my first two plays at work, but the time I have to study depends on freight volumes.

From what I understand a healthy human should go over information seven times to know it for the rest of their life. Seven times, a tall order even for a student without work to worry about. That is why I’m contacting you early. I know what I’m up against, and it is ugly.

I do realize that some of my teachers will have no sympathy for a man in my position. That point was made painfully clear in the fall of two-thousand and six at (the junior college) when I limped into a class room getting glares of annoyance rather than concern from my instructors. That is what the real world is like “We have a competitive program here,” (the supervisor of undergraduate studies) said to me, “But the world is competitive.” So, I’m not expecting all my teachers to reply, but let me thank you in advance if you do.

Reply from the supervisor of undergraduate strides who taught “Art of The Theatre.” You will not that I reference talking to him in the letter

If you are a transfer from a jc, why haven't you been in to see me, so I can decide which of your classes will transfer. As undergraduate coordinator, I make all of those decisions. After that, we can talk about 200.

My reply to him on the 7th

I checked my transcripts today on line, and it said that I had 70 transferred units. Do you need a copy of my transcripts after I took scene painting? It doesn't look like I have any room left for more units but that is a question only you can answer. Also, what do I need to show people when I talk to a counselor about my Gen ed? Will they have everything or do I need copies of my transcripts from FJC and Rio?

Thanks for your help

His reply the same day.

Units may transfer to the university that do not transfer to our dept. If they transferred 70, I am assuming most of them are Gen Ed.

Reply from drafting teacher

Hello,

Come to my first class. I will try my best to fit you in but I won't know till I see who really shows up. Few might drop the class when they find out how much work this class requires.