![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Jan. 27th, 2004
Saturday Morning
Jan. 27th, 2004 11:03 amI never really got a chance to write about one of the pictures I posted on Saturday.
I had to come into the hospital for a while to meet with one of my orientees--this was at 7 am. It didn't take too long, and I found myself with a free morning ahead of me. I headed over to Peets and got a coffee and a scone and sat out by the Sacramento River. It was a drizzly, foggy day--perfect weather.
I had my camera with me and took some pictures of one of the bridges and of a bird that had taken an interest in me. They didn't really turn out too well, so you'll likely never see them.
After a while a homeless guy rode up on his bike to see what I was doing. His name was Richie. We talked for a few minutes, and I asked him a little about his journey. He is from Maine, and is out here because of the weather. He is sleeping under a bridge, and taking advantage of the facilities for homeless people available nearby. He had a sleeping bag, a tarp, and a warm coat. He also had an entrenching tool, which he was particularly proud of.
He asked for a couple of bucks. All I had was one, and I gave it to him, with an apology that it wasn't more. He made my day by telling me that the fact that I would spend time talking with him was much more valuable to him than money. I agreed.
I asked if he would let me take his picture. He agreed, and I took a couple of shots. He didn't smile, and I asked him why. He talked about the things he had lost in his life--those things that alcohol and hard living can drain from you. And how smiling just wasn't part of the bargain anymore.
"But", he said, "I still have my soul--they can't take that away".
It was a beautiful moment, and when I look at the picture, I see a man fiercely protecting his prize possession.
( One more of Richie )
I had to come into the hospital for a while to meet with one of my orientees--this was at 7 am. It didn't take too long, and I found myself with a free morning ahead of me. I headed over to Peets and got a coffee and a scone and sat out by the Sacramento River. It was a drizzly, foggy day--perfect weather.
I had my camera with me and took some pictures of one of the bridges and of a bird that had taken an interest in me. They didn't really turn out too well, so you'll likely never see them.
After a while a homeless guy rode up on his bike to see what I was doing. His name was Richie. We talked for a few minutes, and I asked him a little about his journey. He is from Maine, and is out here because of the weather. He is sleeping under a bridge, and taking advantage of the facilities for homeless people available nearby. He had a sleeping bag, a tarp, and a warm coat. He also had an entrenching tool, which he was particularly proud of.
He asked for a couple of bucks. All I had was one, and I gave it to him, with an apology that it wasn't more. He made my day by telling me that the fact that I would spend time talking with him was much more valuable to him than money. I agreed.
I asked if he would let me take his picture. He agreed, and I took a couple of shots. He didn't smile, and I asked him why. He talked about the things he had lost in his life--those things that alcohol and hard living can drain from you. And how smiling just wasn't part of the bargain anymore.
"But", he said, "I still have my soul--they can't take that away".
It was a beautiful moment, and when I look at the picture, I see a man fiercely protecting his prize possession.
( One more of Richie )