Brother and a "Sister" Mom

A sister holding her little brother in Haiti (Jan. 2015).

It is amazing to watch how sibling sisters become mothers in third world countries as the mom is busy washing clothes by hand, cooking dinner from scratch over an open fire or helping around the village with a sick friend.

One woman told us that her chest was hurting, pointing to her breast. I can only imagine it was the first stages of un-diagnosed breast cancer as medical care is scarce in some of the remote areas of the country. She described the pain accompanied by fatigue through an interpreter.

The Bean in Chicago

It is called Cloud Gate, but many refer to it as the Bean. It was sculpted with 168 stainless steel plates in 2004 and was not complete until 2006. Despite the multiple plates, it is seamless. You can rub your fingers across the surface and it feels as if it is a piece of glass.

An artist from Britain built the sculpture in downtown Chicago. His name is Anish Kapoor.

In case you are curious, it is 66-feet long, 33-feet wide and 42-feet tall.

"No great artist ever sees things as they really are. If he did, he would cease to be an artist." - Oscar Wilde

I changed my life

I took the photo and had a brief conversation… minutes later he searched me out in downtown Nashville to tell me one thing that he felt was important to him that he wanted me to know. He said, “I changed my life, I don’t drink like I use to – that’s not me anymore.” He smiled and I quietly put my hand on his shoulder and said, “That’s a big accomplishment, you are doing good – I’m glad to hear that.” He said, “I may be homeless, but I try to do what’s right.” He shook my hand and walked away with what looked to resemble happiness. 

Meet THE CHAMP

He weighed 165 pounds in 1972 when he won the 1972 National AAU Welterweight Championship. At that time, he lived in Chicago and trained in the C.Y.O. Gym. C.Y.O. stands for the Catholic Youth Organization. He was only 20 years old at the peak of his championship award and he hung up his boxing gloves for good at the age of 25. 

Tonight I had the pleasure of giving Freddie Washington, Jr. a tent and water. Freddie, who is known on the streets of Nashville, Tennessee as “Champ,” was one of the nicest homeless men I have ever met. He was extremely polite and humble.

The Chicago Times wrote in 1972, “In three rounds for the 165-pound championship, Freddie Washington of Chicago Heights, 111., and the Army defeated Ed Gregory of Brooklyn, N.Y.” 

Champ told me he took some major blows to the head over his boxing career and at one point, thought he would never be able to speak again. He proved the doctors wrong and put forth the same effort that he did during his training years to re-learn the process of speaking. 

In the 1970’s he trained with greats like Billy Boy Thompson, Floyd Smith, and Warren Thunder. Tonight, I was in the midst of a legend. 

In addition to boxing, Champ was also known for running. In his teen years, he was one of the fastest kids in Chicago wining numerous races. 

Tonight was a great night. 

"Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing." - Camille Pissarro

The fight

All I heard was, "You don't think I'm strong? Say I'm weak!" A nearby U.S. Army Ranger who was in his sixties looked at me and said, "They're just dancing, that's not a fight... I've seen fights and that's not one." The veteran then laughed and shook his head.

“It is easier to fight for one's principles than to live up to them.” ― Alfred Adler

Alfred W. Adler was an Austrian medical doctor, psychotherapist, and founder of the school of individual psychology. Adler worked closely with Sigmund Freud. Smart would be an understatement.

Empty Places: The old Tennessee State Prison

This evening I journeyed back into the infamous Tennessee State Prison. Some call it the Castle while others simply label it a fortress. See my previous visit HERE.

The abandoned and decrepit prison is located near downtown Nashville, Tennessee. The massive structure first opened in 1898.

The prison had a death row area that included solitary cells for troubled inmates on the row. Death row also had an electric chair for the final days of some inmates in Tennessee.

The prison closed in 1992 and has graffiti on some of the cell walls that suggest some were released in 1990 as the prison began the shutdown process. Other inmate graffiti calls on help from Jesus. It is fascinating, sad and creepy all at the same time.

Vietnam and back by 19.5 years old

Vietnam lasted until 1975, this man was only 18 when he was sent in to help as troops were starting to pack up and leave in 1974. He had just joined the military and spent several months in Vietnam and was then back to America. He told me that it was in Vietnam during his time in the service that he started drinking heavily and using drugs. "Everyone did it," he told me. "I did it too to cope with what I was seeing and to feel better," he told me. 

After spending time overseas, he eventually found his way to Nashville. He said, "Look around, I got caught up in this lifestyle and couldn't stop - My health is poor today, but I feel better every single day now that I have stopped." 

"I have been sober for a little over three and a half years now," He told me as he held a sign asking for help in the downtown lights of Nashville, TN.

The children of the world

“It's the children the world almost breaks who grow up to save it.” ― Frank Warren, Post Secret

I shot this in Haiti with my Fuji X100s

Children of a Third World

I shot these in Haiti.

"What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like." - Saint Augustine

Hope for tomorrow

 88-Year old peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh stated, "Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today." 

I shot this photo in a small village of Haiti while surrounded by children wanting to hold my camera. Each grabbing for it as I snapped. Most of the children were smiling, eager to have their photo made as if they had never seen a camera. 

In this village, there was no electricity, no running water, no TV or radio. 

Haiti on a Wednesday afternoon

Brad Pitt once stated, "Let us be the ones who say we do not accept that a child dies every three seconds simply because he does not have the drugs you and I have. Let us be the ones to say we are not satisfied that your place of birth determines your right to life. Let us be outraged, let us be loud, let us be bold."

New York in the Rain

New York is such a fascinating place. Even at midnight in the rain, I still find it mesmerizing. 

American screen writer Truman Capote famously stated,  "New York is the only real city-city." Capote died at the young age of 59 in 1984.  

Children know no disparity

"If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children." -  Gandhi

Mom washing clothes

While I was walking through a village in Haiti, I noticed a group of women surrounded by buckets of well water. They were all sitting around washing their clothes as the children played in the background. It was like stepping back in time.

The moms were talking, laughing and carrying on. After a load of clothes were clean, they would make their way to the clothing line and hang them to dry. If only I knew what they were talking about.

I wonder if they are a fan of good ole’ Joyce Meyer who stated, “It's so important to realize that every time you get upset, it drains your emotional energy. Losing your cool makes you tired. Getting angry a lot messes with your health.” These moms looked happy! 

Smiles of Haitian Children

I love the smiling faces of children in Haiti. Furthermore, some photos are just supposed to be in color. 

“Never give up on hope. Most of the greatest achievements of humanity were accomplished by tired, discouraged people who never gave up on hope. Anything is possible...if you truly believe.” ― Timothy Pina, Hearts for Haiti