Brian

3/31/11 - Week 13
Continued my walk up Market Street on 3/31/11 and met Brian.  Brian's sign is what caught my eye; "WHY LIE! I NEED BEER".  I admired his honesty (or marketing approach) and engaged him in conversation.  When I told him about the $2 Portraits project and asked if I could take his picture and post it on my website, he gave me a roaring double thumbs-up!  I took a few pictures while Brian posed and then continued our conversation.

Brian was a talkative, friendly guy.  Only problem was I couldn't understand much of what he said.  I was able to get that he is 48 years old and grew up in Missouri.  He's been in San Francisco since age 11 and for many years of his adult life worked odd jobs such as sheetmetal worker and security guard.  I couldn't quite get why Brian finds himself in his present condition, but he obviously suffers from some physical maladies.  I asked about his family back in Missouri and he said he gave them up 20 years ago - "I'm through with them; they are evil and I am a messenger of Jesus."  That sounding odd, I asked him if he was on something and he said that he used to mess around with drugs but no more.  "I'm clean now, but I do like my beer."

He asked my name and where I was from.  After a few more moments of conversation, I gave him $2 and told him to enjoy his "cold one".  He smiled and said thank you.  And I walked on.