Did You Ever Go Hungry?

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What do you mean?

yes, I have gone hungry. I have had my stomach juices eat my stomach lining and have heaved up blood. I have broken into kitchens for food, begged on the streets for 'spare change' lived up back in the woods only to come 'home' and find my stock a couple of cans of tuna be stolen from the rags of blankets I had to cover myself. I have hitchhiked to con food off of the dudes that stopped to give me a ride, only to get out and hitch back a couple hundred miles just to have a warm car to sit in. When I couldn't keep awake they would drop me off and I would sleep by the side of the road in the bushes, or under a boat huddled with a wet boat rug over me. I was hungry then.

Turned away from the 'bread line' at a rescue mission in Wilmington, Ca (harbor area of L.A.), for being too late.
Living in the back of my pickup truck at the time.

Other than that, in regular life, I never went hungry to the point some of you have.

I have also lived out of a tent and cave (El Paso, Texas), for a short duration. I was working at the time and we had locker rooms at work where I could change clothes and shower. Went pretty well until my pickup was stolen.

This is how I have chosen to celebrate Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving always falls on a Thursday; and I typically also get the following Friday off. From sun-up until dawn of the next day on Thanksgiving, I fast; water only. And on the night of Thanksgiving, I wander around and sleep outside, with nothing to protect me from the elements but the clothes on my back. One year I slept on the roof of a government administration building that was a couple of blocks from where I happened to be living with my grandmother at the time. The roof was covered with gravel, but I had on sufficient clothing not to be much bothered by it. It was a relatively safe place to sleep - or so I thought. I woke up int he middle of the night to find myself covered with ants! What the hell are ants doing on the roof of a building? (This was in Florida.) That kinda sucked; but therein lies the point.

Anyway, this short and simple annual exercise really helps one appreciate both having food to eat, and warm and safe shelter. I can't tell you how good any food tastes, and how warm and soft a real bed is after doing this...

When I was younger, I'd typically be lucky to get one meal a day; usually generic macaroni and cheese. Living for quite a while like that while I was young has taught me how to ignore hunger pangs, for the most part, which is a useful skill, though can be a deficit if I get caught up in a project. The first time I ever got "busted" for shoplifting, I was trying to steal a jelly roll from Alberston’s, because I hadn't eaten in two days; they let me off with a warning; I was not such a good thief when I was very young.

And, yeah, I did the starving student thing too. It's amazing how far one can go on little more than a packet of Ramen noodles a day.

Good fortune,

- Icarus re-invents all of the holidays in their original spirits...

Ah Ramen noodles, there is nothing that tastes better for just 10cents.

I'm frequently in times where money is hard to come by, so I make do and eat very little.

I actually don't need to eat that much, and can ignore my hunger pretty easily. Once I push past that initial hunger that shoes up 2-4 hours after I eat (doesn't matter if I eat a lot or a little... it always happens) I don't even get bothered by it.

I'm not a skinny man, but I don't have the same eating habits as the other large people do. Planning and making a meal takes way to much time, I can barely manage one meal a day... I don't see how people manage 3 plus snacks... that's insane...

Just give me one big meal a day, plus plenty of fluids and I'll survive comfortably.

I've never been homeless, but if my dad doesn't get paid soon I'm scared I might go hungry because there isn't a lot in the cupboards right now.

Yes, there have been times where fighting got really bad and my parents made me leave, making me homeless, but I had access to my bank account so I at least could get food. I was always allowed back in at least a few days though, which confused me. There were other times where I tried leaving to live on my own, and naturally it didnt work out, leaving me homeless and very hungry as I ran into financial problems every time I tried. I was surprised though how I was allowed to come back, but confused again because peoples attitude towards me never changed.. So Ive pretty much moved from discomfort to discomfort my whole life.

Yes I've been homeless and hungry. I wish I knew then what I know now. I'm thankful for what I have : )

I have never been homeless nor hungry, camping is the closest I have ever came and I thank God for what I have and after reading this will prey for those who are homeless and hungry tonight.

I also give what I can during the holidays and to the occaional homeless person I run into from time to time, I dont have a ton of money but a little goes a long way for those people. I would hope if I ran into trouble someday someone would be kind to help me out also.

What I mean is, that it's a two-way street. The mother exudes hormones that make her fall in love with her child (under normal conditions of course), where the baby becomes the object of her adoration, where fierce protection of her infant steps in and a biological quest begins to nurture the infant takes top priority over all else. The mother feels pleasure at looking at the baby, feeding it, touching it, smelling it, bonding with it. At the breast while feeding, the mother experiences a myriad of pleasurable feelings most to do with the release of the hormone oxytocin which are the building blocks of communion, bonding and trust that she shares with the infant through her milk. Together they form a team of giving and receiving - unconditional love, sustenance, comfort and attachment.

I heard that about missions. That's why I pretty much made a vow never to be dependent on anyone for my food. I'd rather forage than be dependent.

Living in caves is awesome. IBummer that you got ripped off.

Last edited by jjstar on 30 Oct 2007, 5:34 am, edited 1 time in total.

Geeze. Which city was this so we know which one<s> to avoid....

Going hungry actually intensifies my anxiety. It does me no good at all. Plus my blood pressure and sugar plummet. For me all food is a comfort - especially in times of stress, but I'm pretty selective in the foods I'll eat and will forego on anything that has empty calories - like sugar and most simple carbs.

Tim Horton's is also a good place to dumpster-dive behind.


What infuriates me is when restaurants grind their leftovers into slop and put it in barrels locked in a cage outside.


I've never been truly homeless. I have gone hungry for a while, but I never let myself. I didn't like being hungry and was a spoiled, malnourished brat. I went door to door with a fake pledge sheet for Walk the World to Fight Hunger and people would give out food and money.

depends on the cave. They can be cold and damp and dripping water, but better than just a few feet from the mouth of it!

Bummer you got ripped off wsmac

Well obviously just as you'd be selective in choosing an apartment or house, so you would in choosing a cave. No? Why would anyone want to live in a damp, wet cave (longer than a day that is) when there are so many others to choose from?

That's a hypothetical query btw. Devil's advocate not playing.