I buried my best friend yesterday

“I was born in California,” he told me, but has lived in Evansville, Indiana his entire life. As we talked more, I realized he was placed into the foster care system at age 6. A woman in Indiana later adopted him.

“My mom (talking about his adopted mother), was like Aunt Bee on the Andy Griffith Show,” he said with a smile. As he continued to describe his parents he commented, “My dad (adopted father) was an Evangelist.” I could tell he was proud of the parents who raised him in life, but he was struggling. A string of bad choices mixed with a little bad luck landed him on the streets. Today he is 48-years old.

The conversation then took a downturn. “I buried my best friend yesterday,” he said while looking down. When I asked who died he said, “My mom. My dad died last year and my mom passed away this past week, she was 88.” He told me she was the best woman ever.

“No language can express the power, and beauty, and heroism, and majesty of a mother’s love. It shrinks not where man cowers, and grows stronger where man faints, and over wastes of worldly fortunes sends the radiance of its quenchless fidelity like a star.” - Edwin Hubbell Chapin

I'm 80, I'm staying

"So, where are you from," I asked? "I'm from Ohio," he told me, saying that he came to Atlanta for his daughters wedding. "Are you headed back to Ohio soon," I questioned? "No, I'm 80, I'm here to stay." 

"Youth is the gift of nature, but age is a work of art." - Stanislaw Jerzy Lec

Man of Voodoo in Haiti

Voodoo is something that most hear about and think is interesting, fascinating and even fictitious. However, it is actually a Satanic ritual that is very much real. This is a photo of a practicing Haitian Voodoo Witch Doctor. He is about 53-years old age and lives one hour away from Cap-Haitien, Haiti. He has many followers who turn to him on a regular basis.  

I visited several Voodoo Ceremonial Grounds in Haiti and found multiple human skulls, a casket and other skeletal remains used during ritualistic activities.  Human sacrifices, murders and more are all a part of Satanic Voodoo Ceremonies in Haiti. 

In 2013, Haiti Tourism Minister Stephanie Villedrouin told NPR News that real Voodoo Ceremonies should be a part of the schedule for visiting tourist (read here). 

Life in Haiti

This woman quietly sits by the roadside in a small and out of the way city in the country of Haiti. She sells scoops of laundry detergent that she places in zip-lock baggies. In Haiti, you won't find grocery stores that sell the necessities of life. 

After her customers buy detergent, they will often walk to a nearby creek or river and wash their clothing in a bucket filled with river water. They then pour the water/ soap mix back into the waterway when finished. 

Mouth full of candy

This young man was watching a Christmas parade pass by in Murfreesboro, TN. He had a mouth full of candy while watching in hopes of more candy being thrown out. 

I see dead people

"I see dead people," he told me. I asked, "You mean right now?" He said, "Everywhere." It was almost as if I were watching that movie from 1999 called The Sixth Sense. He told me that he has lot's of mental issues that include multiple personalities and schizophrenia. He then told me that he is an artist and he designed the tattoo you see in this photo. The subject changed rapidly. 

Upon diving into deeper conversation, I learned more about the root of some of the issues he deals with, which gave me a better understanding as to why. He talked about his mother committing suicide when he was much younger and his father leaving. He talked about his past drug use, domestic violence arrest and more. The conversation could have easily lasted for hours. You never really know someone until you try to understand them.