Roderick

Via Flickr:
It must have be veteran's night in San Francisco. He was the second veteran to approach me this evening asking if I could spare some change for a bite to eat. "Support your Vets" was his plea. His demeanor and articulate speech reminded me very much of Larry, who I spoke with last December and wrote about. It was funny though; Roderick had the same kind of Veteran's Affairs card that Francis did this evening. Hmmm….are they legit? He offered to show me his California ID, but I declined.

Roderick is 54 years old and is from Mobile, Alabama and has been in San Francisco for 8 years. He was in the Army but never saw any kind of combat. Prior to moving to California, he lived in Texas. I asked him what kind of work he's done and he said he can't work because he's disabled. When I responded that he didn't appear to be disabled, he said, "looks can be deceiving." Roderick then told me he is doing the work of "God" and that he really likes San Francisco because there is a lot of love in the people here. He really enjoys talking to people on the street. We walked down Market Street together for a couple of blocks before I headed back to Union Square. I gave Roderick $2 and wished him luck. We shook hands and he walked on to Carl's Jr. to get something to eat.

Taken 3/14/13

Fashion Forward

Via Flickr:
Market Street
San Francisco, CA

Submitted to ClicheSaturday. HCS!

Francis

Via Flickr:
I was walking along Market Street, taking pictures of buses loading and unloading passengers as they pulled into their stops. He approached me from the side while I was waiting for the next photo op and and asked, "Sonny, wanna buy a bagel?" I looked over and he was dragging a large plastic bag full of bagels, which he said he received from a bakery at the end of the day. When I told him I wasn't interested in a bagel but I'd give him $2 if he let me take his picture and told me a little about himself, he readily agreed and set down his bag of bagels.

Francis Gallagher began his story by emptying his sling bag and telling me about its contents. His identification showed he was a disabled veteran who served in the marines in Vietnam. It was there he became mentally disabled and has since never held a job. He showed me a book on fortune telling from a regular deck of cards and was prepared to test it out on me. And he showed me a book of "Homeless Poems" that he claimed he authored.

Francis is 64 years old and has been in San Francisco since 1982. He's originally from Detroit and we talked a bit about midwesterners. I asked him about family and he's never been married. His parents lived in Pennsylvania when he was very young and his dad worked in the coal mines but died from black lung disease when Francis was 12. He didn't talk much about his mom other than to say she was a sophisticated woman.

Francis could have gone on a long time, but folks started to come around due to the sweet smell of bagels, so I thought that would be a good time to make an exit. I gave him $2 and wished him luck.

Taken 3/14/13

2 Years Later

Via Flickr:
For those of you who have followed my $2 Portraits project, this young woman may look familiar. The story began in March 2010 in San Francisco and another chapter was written today.

As remote a possiblility as one could imagine, last month my son and his girlfriend moved to Indiana and coincidentally are living less than 3 miles from this young woman and her family. Of all the places in the US that they could have landed...and to land so close to her, will never cease to amaze me. So today, while visiting my son and his girlfriend, we met as families for the first time.

It was great to see her doing well, a far cry from the streets of San Francisco where we first met.

Now for the excuses - I did not want to interrupt this occasion by pulling out a big camera and taking lots of photos. Hence, this iPhone shot is the only one I have from this reunion.

Taken 3/10/13

Where's Waldo?

Via Flickr:
3/4/13
Half Day Preserve
Vernon Hills, IL

Great day snowshoeing amongst the trees and terrain. Taken 3/3/13.