It's good to know I still command Respect (on the Block).

I've been blessed in my life, but that doesn't mean I've forgotten what it's like to be On the Block. I'll never forget my Block, and that's one of the things that lends my work its distinctive "Edge". I was recently addressing a group of less fortunate kids who were loitering on the street corner, and one of them respectfully referred to me as one of their heroes! For these kids, growing up on the mean streets this was pretty much the ultimate compliment, as I imagine most of them huddle around their trash-fires at night wishing there really was a certain Caped Crusader in the way normal kids wish Santa Claus would bring them an Aibo. Anyways - wow! - these kids thought of themselves as my "wards" in much the same way as Dick Grayson was Bruce Wayne's (Burt) ward because as I left one of them said, in his distinctive patois,

"Bye-bye, Batty-Man."

It's got me thinking about becoming involved in mentoring in a more serious way! OK, bye!