I might as well take the opportunity to explain something of myself. I am bipolar II, almost took my life prior to diagnosis. This disorder will leave you feeling like a shell of a human being. No emotions, no joy, no happiness, no sadness, no anger, nothing. We need our emotions good and bad to move through life. It will take you to the top with a manic state of mind then it will put you six foot under in an instant with overwhelming depression. This project has taken me the better part of five years since July of 2015. Most of the time it sits with only spurts of activity.
One day in March of 2017 it was a sunny day yet chilly out. I got in my Z4, dropped the top and took in the brisk, invigorating air. I did this a number of times during March as the weather was beautiful. I just drove with no destination in mind. In my travels I had been passing this particular Starbucks. I had already taken a large step by getting out of the house. Now I took it further by going inside and ordering a coffee. I broke one of my cardinal rules with no, smoking, no eating or drinking in my cars by sitting in front of the store and just gazing at the natural beauty of the tall pines across the street. I was feeling very good for the first time in a long time.
The next step was to actually order something here and find a seat inside watching customers come and go. I wanted to reintegrate myself with people and was starving for conversation. I had an idea. I began to bring my David Weeks drawings to Starbucks and began planning a step by step approach to make this rocket better. I had chosen the largest table there as these drawings would dwarf the other tables spilling on the floor. People began to take notice and conversation ensued. I very much enjoyed conversation with both the staff and customers concerning my project. Now the next step was clear, I began to bring the upper section of the rocket in to begin detailing. Things really began to pick up. Then the final step, to bring the entire stack in and proceed. What was to follow was unreal. Here was a guy with a 7.5 foot rocket inside a Starbucks enjoying their products and the countless conversations I began having.
People of all ages, men, women and kids were utterly fascinated by this project. I found a place to rehabilitate and this was my therapy. My doctors were impressed as well. To take a handicap and spin things around by yourself is truly self empowering and I realized this. I had related much of my story to many people, from employees to customers. During this time I had a spell that lasted for two weeks and did not show up. One of the customers had gotten a get well card and had people fill it out.