Hello to all.  I hope this letter finds you happy and healthy in the new season.  For me, 2009 has been filled with incredible experiences, new relationships, a renewal of my personal values, and an overwhelming sense of purpose.

As you all know, this summer I traveled the country collecting stories from people affected by the recession, in what I called ‘The Man In A Van Project’.  The stories I collected were numerous and varied, and I came away with a greater sense of compassion and empathy for all those who struggle.

Along my journey, I met the rich, the poor, the middle-class, average Joes, politicians, the media, bankers, realtors, attorneys, collection agents, farmers, immigrants (both legal and illegal), gay, straight, religious, atheist, civil rights advocates, healthcare reform advocates, tea party organizers, Republicans, Democrats, Independents and Constitutionalists, lovers, haters, vets, single parents, divorcees, recent college graduates, thieves, drug dealers, abusers, enablers, escapists, prostitutes, trauma victims, small business owners, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, the homeless, soccer moms, students, unemployed factory workers, union protesters, suicidal types, travelers, and just about every other category of person you could stereotype.

The experiences I gathered in four months have been more complex and profound than anything else I’ve learned in the past ten years.  My emotional intelligence has skyrocketed, and I am deeply grateful for having gained insight into what makes America tick.

I’m now writing a book about the experience, and believe it or not, I’m still living in the van.  I get quite a few stares, but not nearly as much as I did in the summertime.  I moved to Seattle a month ago, and the van is starting to get dingy with the constant rain and cold.  In fact, I think the engine block might be cracked.  I’ve been told the van won’t last more than a week from now, and I’ve been having trouble starting it on most days.  Needless to say, I’m trying to think of immediate alternative housing.  I was hoping to preserve the van for museum consideration and move into an apartment by now, but I understand the reality of my situation and accept the struggle (and I refuse to post the van on eBay and/or buy lottery tickets).

In the meantime, I got a job!  Woohoo!  And I’m also applying for literary grants and seeking sponsorship.  The job is part-time in the food service industry, and it pays minimum wage.  I am thankful for it, and I do my work with enthusiasm and with a positive attitude.  I haven’t yet received a paycheck, but soon it will come.  The literary grant I’m seeking will hopefully pay for an apartment so I can write with ease (and for longer periods of time), but honestly, this option is looking less and less feasible.  Persistence is the name of this game, though, and I’m not giving up unless they give me a definitive “no”.

When the book is finished, it will reflect the journey I had throughout the states, along with an exhaustive compilation of transcribed recession stories from the project.  I don’t yet have a publisher, but I’m not concerned with that at this point.  I just need to chip away at writing everyday, and I’m confident it will capture the interest of publishers and readers in due time.

If you’d like to follow my progress as I write the book, please follow me on Facebook.  You can add me as a friend, but also don’t forget to join my Facebook group (of the same name: Aaron Heideman).  I recently started posting one new recession quote each day on the group page, and I will be updating the group with progress reports on a regular basis.  I’m also inviting everyone to participate in various discussions on the group page, to promote dialogue and expression.

So again, I hope all is well, and I also want to thank EVERYONE that supported me throughout the journey, either through encouraging words or monetary support.  Every last penny I received was used as resourcefully as possible, and I always had just enough to keep going.  It was truly providential.  I also gained a lot of momentum from the encouraging words I received, and although I didn’t always have time to respond to everything that was shared with me through Facebook, Twitter, or on my blog, I was listening to all of it.  The encouragement was just as helpful as money, and continues to hold motivational weight.

Don’t be afraid to say hello.  I’m thankful for all my friends.

With Love,

Aaron Heideman

Man In A Van