Stabbed 9 Times

“I was stabbed 9 times, didn’t feel a thing until I saw the blood running down my chest and stomach,” he told me with a drunken growl. “I’m a Marine and I’m not scared of anything,” he said while moving in closer.

He then pulled out a pocket knife in an attempt to show me what happened. “See, he had the knife like this,” he slurred while holding the knife about 5 inches away from my camera that was firmly placed to my face. The knife was too close to focus on, so I took a step back as he again told me he was not scared of anything and served in the U.S. Marines for 8 years.

With a change of subject I asked, “So what brought you to Tennessee?” He again moved in close while putting his knife back into his pocket – I could smell the alcohol rolling off his breath, “I was coming through town on a bus and the driver kicked me off, he said I was having sex on his bus – I wasn’t.”

“Last thing I remember, I was
Running for the door
I had to find the passage back
To the place I was before
'Relax,' said the night man,
'We are programmed to receive.
You can check out any time you like,
But you can never leave ...”
― Eagles, Hotel California

In Nashville Four Days

He stated: “I use to live in New Orleans, but had to move after the hurricane. Then, I moved to Galveston, Texas, but later had to find somewhere else after that place flooded. I’ve been in Nashville for four days now because I heard work was here. I think I may have landed a job come Monday.” 

He told me how he wanted a Sprite. So, I got him one along with some cookies. Small things. 

Judge me not

“Judge tenderly, if you must. There is usually a side you have not heard, a story you know nothing about, and a battle waged that you are not having to fight.” ― Traci Lea LaRussa

He said to me, “I’m from Hohenwald, Tennessee, but, I’ve been all over the place.”

“Man, I’m not asking people for money, I just need food in my belly,” he told me while rubbing his stomach.

I sat down next to him looking up at the passerby’s and could not help but to notice the need for everyone to avoid eye contact. The pedestrians were doing this with everyone – not just those who were sitting on the sidewalk anxious to eat, to drink, to pill, to snort or whatever they felt they needed to fill that empty hole in their heart.

The funny thing is… if funny is even the right word, the pedestrians were on an equal mission to fill that empty hole. Some drunk, some high, others on a spending spree.  I think at times that I too am trying to feel that empty hole.

What bothers me is the judging that takes place day after day. I see it more and more today than in my past. Perhaps age has opened my eyes? Situations? Life?

I am judged daily by others, I hear the gossip and it is not kind. I see the looks, etc.

If you are reading this, I bet you hear hurtful talk about yourself at times. The question is… what do you do when you hear it? React or smile with a slight laugh? I guess what we should do is care less and less about what others say and keep living, but we are human.

As for this man I photographed, the judging has likely led to a lack of help by family, friends and those who have yet to meet him. He currently lives in a tent located near the Cumberland River in Nashville within a small community of campers who also feel similar pain.

“Who are you to judge the life I live? I know I'm not perfect -and I don't live to be- but before you start pointing fingers... make sure your hands are clean!” ― Bob Marle

Stage IV Colon Cancer may slow some down, but not Shela

A friend to the community passed away on Tuesday night. Shela Moffett-Fabri will be remembered by many for multiple reasons.

Shela Moffett-Fabri with Rion Flowers and Gifts in Murfreesboro, Tennessee had stage four colon cancer. She had been battling the disease for the past three years. Despite her situation, she never gave up and actually encouraged others to do more.

One of the many things that Shela did in recent years was the organizing and hosting of a giant soccer tournament to help multiple people who are up against the fearsome word of cancer. The fundraiser called “Kicking Cancer Mid-TN” was geared towards helping people financially that have costly treatment bills in front of them while out of work.

Why Soccer?

Shela was a big fan of soccer and was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015. Moffett-Fabri played soccer in the 1990's at the Lees-McRae College in North Carolina. She later graduated in 1993 and appeared in 61 women's soccer matches during her time at LMC.

According to the College, the Bobcats were a dominant force with her on the team as they produced a 63-17-1 record. Moffett-Fabri scored a pair of goals, including one game-winner while producing seven assists.

Prior to college, Shela attended Oakland High School in Murfreesboro where she graduated in 1989.

Alumni of the Month:

In 2015 she was named the Alumni of the Month and an article highlighting Shela stated... "Shela currently lives in Tennessee and has been married 19 years to Keith Fabri. “I have an amazing husband who is my rock. In August, I was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer (which spread to my lung, liver and lymph nodes) and my husband has been a trooper for my family. I have a little boy, Augee, and he is nine years old and all boy! I have two step children in their twenties and two step grandchildren (Alex, 8 and Christian, 6 months).”

“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do” – Eleanor Roosevelt

I am Nashville

I am Nashville! Well, I'm not, but he is. 

I shot this photo as this man was waiting on a bus in downtown Music City, as he was listening to music. 

"If you had told me when I was starting out that I would be coming down to Nashville, kind of weaving in and out of the country scene, I never would've thought that in a million years." - Kid Rock

He is traveling because he wants to

“I always wanted to travel, so I am,” he told me with a smile from ear to ear. I asked where he was originally from and he responded, “I’m from Ohio and I’ve been places, but I really wanted to go, ya know?”

“Where did you first visit - was Nashville the first place,” I eagerly asked. “I got on a Greyhound and I got off in Jackson, Tennessee - - It was boring, I then went to Nashville,” he said.

His next stop will be out west, likely California.

“The man who goes alone can start today; but he who travels with another must wait till that other is ready.” – Henry David Thoreau

Epileptic and on the Streets

Brenda has been on the streets since April of 2015. She told me that she landed on the streets because of life. 

“I have five kids and me and their dad didn’t get along and his mamma wouldn’t let me come back home,” she explained to me. Brenda then said, “I’m epileptic and I have been cut off by TNCare.” I asked if she has had any seizures in recent days after she told me that she has been without medication for quite some time and she responded,  “I had two last night and three about three days ago.”

“The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.” - Flannery O'Connor

Life on the street can be violent

An attempted machete attack took place this past March in a Murfreesboro homeless camp, according to a police report (MPD Incident Report 16-5895, A). That being said, being homeless is not exactly easy.

When homeless, you deal with a wide variety of people with a myriad of problems. Some problems are not exactly big while others are more than the average person could even begin to grasp.

A few people who are on the streets simply lost a job and prior to the job loss, they were living paycheck to paycheck. Others have untreated mental health issues.

Some who have undiagnosed mental illnesses were once living with family that could no longer tolerate the living arraignment. Others on the street were abused as children and never got the proper counseling to learn how to deal with the flashbacks they now face daily. Drugs and alcohol and even prostitution to fund the addictions is not unheard of in many situations.

Now, back to the reported attack involving victim George Brewer… he said that suspect Chad Jones is now on the run after the incident.

According to the initial police report, 34-year Jones allegedly went to the campsite of Brewer and began yelling at him. Evidently, Jones woke up the victim who said he was scared for his safety when Jones was said to have tried attacking him.

The report stated that 43 year old Brewer told Jones that he was calling the police, which is when Jones reportedly picked up a machete that was at the campsite. Brewer says that Jones started swinging the machete at him and he feared for his life. While moving away from Jones, the victim fell into his tent. Police say they observed two cuts on the tent that were alleged to have been caused by the swinging machete.

Brewer told me on Friday (5/13/16) that he was able to grab a hook knife and slice Jones in the middle of the incident. The injuries were likely bad, but not bad enough to keep Jones from fleeing before police arrived.

Jones has a long criminal history that includes charges of driving on a revoked license and vandalism to multiple domestic assault convictions and numerous aggravated assault convictions.

Warrants for aggravated assault and vandalism were obtained for Jones, but he has not been apprehended.

Cancer Sucks

At age 45, most of us think about life, seeing our grandchildren in the future, running errands, etc. However, life does not always stream along like the perfect script from a Leave It To Beaver show. At 45, many are worried about what to wear to dinner or what to cook. Again, that is something that some don't have the good fortune to think about. In other words, some question if they will survive today or tonight. 

Tanya lives in a small motel room located in Nashville. Outside of her room a man was shot several days ago. Down the street, a similar incident unfolded in a restaurant parking lot. Drug dealers and pimps knock on her motel door almost nightly thinking they have the right room, but they don’t. The rent is high and rings in at close to $350 per week. During a four week month she pays over $1,400.

Looking back she told me about her childhood in Nashville. Opryland was once a vibrant part of Nashville life and every child dreamed of being a country singer while walking through the heavily treed park with paths lined with over-sized guitars. Tanya was one of those kids.

As a six year old in 1977, Tanya had her first chance to perform at Opryland. She sang on the stage and that event led her to many other singing and even acting engagements throughout her life.

At 16, she was asked to be on Hee Haw. For those who are not from the South, Hee Haw was a popular TV series that first started in 1969. However, after filming an episode with her in it, the episode was cut because she was pregnant at the time. The producer told her it was a “Family” show and that a pregnant teen would not fit in. Life went on.

Tanya has been an extra in several movies, sang with Carl Tipton from Murfreesboro and even raised several children. She doesn’t drink, doesn’t smoke and does not use drugs. She simply suffers from a complicated disease that is taking over her 45 year old body. Unable to work, she eventually found herself living in a motel.

Several years ago a visit to a Dickson, Tennessee medical facility led to doctors finding what appeared to be stage four breast cancer. Shortly after the discovery, a biopsy was performed during which the surgeon accidentally punctured a lung. However, that was not confirmed until about 12 hours later. Tanya told me that she told the doctor she was not feeling good prior to being discharged, but they sent her home anyway.

Soon after being rushed back to the hospital and undergoing surgery, she learned that she had lung cancer in addition to breast cancer. Fights with TNCare insurance soon followed as she sought help to battle her disease.

Tanya is a fighter and has the drive to survive. She has turned down help from Hospice as she talked to me about her future in her small and crowded motel room on Sunday night.

Tanya stated, “We found that there is a great facility in Columbia, Tennessee and they work well with my current insurance. It is called the Maury Regional Medical Center, but I have problems getting rides there to seek help. Rides that are set up through the states medical office fall through too often, which means I miss appointments.”

Tanya wants to move to the Columbia or Spring Hill area where it will be easier for her to get her needed treatment at the Cancer Center in Maury County. Between the incomes of both her and her boyfriend who suffers from numerous heart conditions, they could afford a small one bedroom unit in that area. But, help will be needed to find such a place, move them in and then help with groceries on a regular basis.

In a past conversation, she told me about her teeth... She has had problems with her teeth due to some of the cancer treatments. That being said, a dentist could also help her with some of the dental issues that many of those who fight cancer face on a daily basis.

Immediate Needs:

Currently, Tanya is in need of making the big move to the Maury County area. She is in need of food. She is in need of gift cards to Walgreens or Kroger to purchase her medication that is not available at the Hope Clinic in Nashville.

Some of the food items that are easy for her to digest include: Rice, Salmon (sold in pouches similar to the StarKist Tuna), Instant Potato Cups, Sprite, DeCaffe Sweet Tea and more. Tanya no longer drinks anything with caffeine in it. She has a small refrigerator and a microwave in her motel room.

If you would like to help, contact me. If you have a small group at church that could conquer her needs of finding her a one bedroom apartment near the Maury Reginal Medical Center, life would be much easier. Tanya and her significant other can afford $500 per month, which would be very reasonable in Columbia, TN. But, they will still need that small group to walk with her in the future journey. This would be a commitment, but a good one.

Olivia Newton-John once stated, “My family and friends were definitely the key to my recovery. One thing that I do suggest is that anyone dealing with a life-threatening illness like cancer choose a point person for people to call to find out how you are doing - a sister, brother, mother, father, daughter, son, or close friend.” Tanya does not have that point person. Most of her family deserted her after a bitter divorce, that was like a cancer as she described it.

I was born in 1955, the same year that Disneyland opened

I met Jim Galaz in the area of the Murfreesboro square today. It was interesting talking to him about his memories growing up.

“I was born in 1955, the same year that Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California,” he told me. With a smile he continued, “My father did construction there and he told me that no one was allowed to have a mustache because Mr. Disney had one.”

The $17 million theme park was built on 160 acres in Anaheim. It first opened in July of 1955. At the time, the famous Walt Disney was 54 years old and Mr. Galaz was not even one.

Stepping back further to 1928, Walt Disney introduced the nation to the famous cartoon “Steamboat Willy” starring “Mickey Mouse.” The film made history for several reasons, one because the world met the big eared mouse for the very first time. It was also the first time for a cartoon to come with sound. I guess you could say, the rest is history.

Back to Mr. Galaz… He is so proud of his children and grandchildren. In fact, they are the reason for his move to Middle Tennessee. He wanted to be closer to his daughter Shannon and his grandson Maximus who goes by the nickname of Max.

Max was born with Cytomegalovirus or Congenital CMV. Children born with CMV often have health issues like hearing or vision loss, an enlarged liver, central nervous system damage and more. About 1 in 150 children are born with CMV every year. The problems can lead to long term health issues in about 20 out of every 100 babies born with CMV.

“Of all of our inventions for mass communication, pictures still speak the most universally understood language.” Walt Disney (1901-1966)

The Starchild

He was dressed as The Starchild (Stanley) from the group KISS. I never fully understood the characters, but realized they understood performance as their costumes and acts were interesting to say the very least. 

I love finding interesting people to photograph. This man was at a KISS concert waiting to walk into the arena to watch the band that has a history dating back to 1973. Of course, the year was nowhere close to ’73. I captured this shot in 2015. 

The band was formed by Paul Stanley (Starchild) and Gene Simmons (The Demon) in ’73 and they are the only two musicians who stayed with the band throughout the years. Any other name was simply passing through stardom. 

Today, Paul Stanley is 64 and Gene Simmons is 66.

"Whenever anybody comes to me with a way that I can give something back, it would be ungrateful at this point in my life to not say yes." - Paul Stanley

Food for sale everywhere in Masaya

Homemade fried pies for sale! Food is for sale everywhere in Masaya, Nicaragua and in the outlying areas of the town. In this case, bakers sell what appear to be homemade fried pies. Many of the vendors work long hours seven days a week to support their family. 

Street Photography in Nicaragua

This young man is playing with a handmade Nicaragua Bolero. The small cone like stick he is holding has a string attached to it with a wooden ball on the end. The goal is to get the ball on the open end of the cone to stay as you throw it upwards. It is somewhat addictive, kinda’ like the video games some kids play in America, but not as intense. 

Photo with a Fuji X100s on the streets located between the departments of Masaya and Granada in Nicaragua.

Prayer in an Alley

Prayer in a back alley of Nicaragua. 

“Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one” ― Bruce Lee

Art of Living

I shot this in Nicaragua. 

Social reformer and doctor Havelock Ellis once stated,  "All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on." (1859-1939)

Just a little rest

He was simply resting while watching passing traffic outside of a store in Costa Rica. Resting is important for the soul.  

"I have never taken any exercise, except sleeping and resting, and I never intend to take any." -Mark Twain

Mother and Daughter

Mother and daughter on a shopping excursion at the neighborhood market in Costa Rica.

"My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her." - George Washington

From Little Rock to Nashville

He lives on the streets of Nashville and is 36-years old. When asked what placed him on the streets he paused, took a breath and then told me about the mother of his daughter. He told me that she died and between her death, medical bills and life, he could not afford what many of us would refer to as a regular life in a home or apartment.

Prior to living in Nashville, he lived in Little Rock, Arkansas. He accepted a job selling magazines which brought him to Nashville. The company failed to pay him for his efforts so instead of being on the streets of Little Rock, he is now on the streets of Nashville.

“Where are you living,” I asked. He then told me that he sleeps on cardboard in different areas with his girlfriend. The two support each other enough to purchase food, but that’s about all they can currently afford.

“All the world is full of suffering. It is also full of overcoming.” - Helen Keller

The Kidney Donation

What is the definition of a hero? Good question. The Webster Dictionary defines a hero as “A person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities.”

Today I met 24 year old Benito Cabrera, who is a graduate of Siegel High School in Murfreesboro, TN. He told me that he will be donating his kidney to his younger sister Jasmine Goolesby on May 17, 2016. Evidently, other family members and friends were not a match.

Cabrera stated, “I’ll be donating my kidney to my sister and helping her enjoy her young life. She’s 23 years old. Everywhere she goes people talk to her and ask her about her sickness. She’s real open about it. She’s really happy as a person, even to this day. She is also doing dialysis three times a week, about 6 to 7 hours a day, but somehow works around it working 40 plus hours a week.”

As the kidney donation date nears, Cabrera and his sister are trying to raise enough money to cover expenses while in the hospital and while in recovery and unable to work. If you want to help, visit GofundMe.com/jewfz82c. 

I would say that Benito Cabrera matches the definition of a hero. 

Was it a good night?

It was a good night. Or, Mack the Knife struck again.

Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear
And it shows them pearly white
Just a jackknife has old MacHeath, babe
And he keeps it, ah, out of sight
Ya know when that shark bites with his teeth, babe
Scarlet billows start to spread
Fancy gloves, oh, wears old MacHeath, babe
So there's never, never a trace of red

Now on the sidewalk, huh, huh, whoo sunny morning, un huh
Lies a body just oozin' life, eek
And someone's sneakin' 'round the corner
Could that someone be Mack the Knife?

- Bobby Darin, "Mack the Knife" 1959 (My favorite version).
- Louis Armstrong sang the song in 1956.

But, the song came first in 1929. It premiered in Berlin in 1928 at the Theater am Schiffbauerdamm.

More details? "The Ballad of Mack the Knife", originally "Die Moritat von Mackie Messer", is a song composed by Kurt Weill with lyrics by Bertolt Brecht for their music drama Die Dreigroschenoper, or, as it is known in English, The Threepenny Opera.