Via Flickr:
I watched him from afar for a while; approaching people on the street and serenading them with songs about San Francisco. Some people smiled and listened and others turned a shoulder and quickly moved away. When he approached me, I greeted him with a smile and told him about the $2 Portrait project. He immediately asked if I could make it $3; I knew I had a character in my midst. He introduced himself as Tyrone and we shook hands. He had a very strong grip which I commented on. "My daddy taught me that", he said. "When you shake someone's hand, let them know you mean it."
Tyrone is 57 years old and lives in a hotel room in San Francisco which he obtained through a local homeless agency after a 2 year wait. Originally from Missouri, just across from the Illinois border, he's been in San Francisco since 1978. He used to work as a general laborer but has severe arthritis in his hands (hmmm...strong grip) and shoulders and now lives on SSI. For supplementary income, he sells the Street Sheet and sings in a street band (which was supposed to show up tonight, but didn't).
I took a few shots of Tyrone and could then tell he was anxious to move on. It was like the meter ran out on a $2 contribution, so I gave him his money and said perhaps I'd catch him out here again. He thanked me and went on to sing for some other folks walking by.
Taken 7/21/11
Posted 8/4/11 - Week 31
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