Colleen has been sleeping in a safe spot. But because people have mentioned they know where she is sleeping, it has become unsafe. So she doesn’t like to go there anymore.
Living without a home is very dangerous, especially for a woman.
She has bandages on her knee and a bump on her head.
She was with her first husband for 14 years. She had her first two children five years apart and got her business degree during that time and started a sole proprietorship.
Then they split up, and it was devastating, personally and financially. They took her children away. It was so hurtful.
She went into nursing. People helped her prep in order to pass the test to get into nursing. She was doing in-home house services, but then they said you can’t because of what’s on her record.
She had to take this horrible job. It was a sales position selling cars. She was horrible on the sales floor. They taught her how to hook people into deals. They know they will have a re-possession with certain customers, and she just could not do that part of the job. They would have had to send a closer in with no compassion, and she just said she couldn’t do it.
She bought a small cosmetic company and also started a house-cleaning business with a friend. They did well. They were bonded and insured.
Recently, she has gotten a rehabilitation product patented for elderly patients.
So it’s been a long process. She’s 53-years-old.
She has gone through hardships. She’s not sure why she is being targeted, but she tries to hold her chin up and keep her faith.
She says that if you’ve made a poor choice and you’re trying to change a situation, you might be too close to realize certain things.
— Ed Pilolla
In her own words
I was a CERT out here and a junior lifeguard. I worked for Seascape in Redondo Beach when I was 19-22. I used to lifeguard right there, and you meet people on the coast and it’s like family. I still have that at least. It’s not at least. It’s grand. They still allow me to go there and wash my bike once in a while.
Something bad happened to me in ‘92 and it cost me my career. It was physical, involved the courts. I had stuff put upon me that wasn’t even part of my life and brought into my life. Injury cost me my career twice and also put me in a position where I was very vulnerable.
It’s been blessings and healings, and others things have been a pain in the neck.
There are people here who aren’t just self-conflicted party guys. They had a good home life. They do what they want but they didn’t realize the self destruction to themselves. It’s not just about that, but some of it is. I’m very compassionate with those people.
In AA, a lot of people have had problems with drugs and alcohol, and it doesn’t matter what profession they are in. Some are in the best professions. It’s hard to say no then. You’re out there moving fast, you’re trying to be social, and you get caught up in what I call the rat race.
Someone told me you’ve got to roll with the punches. Not me. I need a blocker. I’m tired of the punches.
