In 1985, after being named the outstanding graduate at the University of Arizona and attending Stanford Law School, I was a successful young attorney at a prominent East Coast law firm, traveling the country and litigating cases for clients such as fashion designer Gucci and candy maker M&M/Mars. I had a bright, highly-paid future laid out in front of me—until I quit to vagabond through Asia for as long as my money would last. That turned out to be nine months, starting in what was then called “Red China” and ending at a cremation ceremony in Bali. When you give up that much to spend most of a year on the other side of the world, you’d better come back with some remarkable stories. That I did.

When I returned, I wrote a book about the most fascinating tales from that journey, and from other lengthy adventures while eating wind in South America and Europe during my twenties. But before finishing the book, I became distracted . . . for about thirty-five years.  Distracted, that is, until recently, when I pulled out a dusty floppy disc buried in a desk drawer containing stories preserved in Word 2.0. They reintroduced me to unique adventures from a time and a world that have now vanished. 

Eat the Wind recounts the most memorable people and events from those journeys. At the same time, it explores the tension between a high-achieving young lawyer out to conquer the world, and his alter ego, a wandering, hitchhiking backpacker out to see the distant corners of that world, even if it risked his career. 

I am currently putting the finishing touches on the book. You could say I’ve been writing it since 1986, so it’s about time. Better late than never!

The next step is finding a publisher who shares my vision for this project. Please subscribe to hear more about that journey and other news and stories about these vintage travels.