The 30 Mile Lawn Tractor Ride

Don served his country in Vietnam and in my book, he’s a hero. I couldn’t let this hero drive his new lawn tractor 30-miles alone.

On the way home from work Thursday, I saw Don driving his recently purchased lawnmower down the highway. Knowing he lives another county down (30-minutes away by car), I stopped to offer Don and his new mower a ride.

Don was armed with a can of beef stew and a cup of cold brewski when he helped me load the mower into the back of my truck. We then headed to Bedford County, TN.

Prior to picking Don and his MTD Yard Machine up on Highway 231 South, he told me that he had already been riding it for the last 2-hours, after a brief stop at his favorite bar. His goal was to ride it all the way back to his camper, in the Shelbyville area.

On the trek to Bedford County, he told me about working at MTD Yard Machines in the late 1970’s. Don said, “I worked on the line in Ohio and one day the painter failed to show up… They asked me to move to the paint line and the next thing I know, I was over painting.”

The MTD company began in 1932 and is actually family-owned company. 

New Singer Sewing Machines

According to the Webster Dictionary, a sewing machine is any of various foot-operated or electric machines for sewing or making stitches. 

What the dictionary fails to tell readers is that a simple sewing machine in the right hands can bring homeless women together and allow them to release their anxiety and burdens on creativity. 

Vanessa Newsome had the idea to start a sewing class at Greenhouse Ministries a while back, but she didn’t have enough machines. Vanessa told me, “While some women are sewing, other women are watching – they take turns.” 

After I interviewed her for a WGNS news story I made one phone call to my friend Penny Ray with Singer Sewing Machines. Within about an hour, Penny told me that she has gotten approval to give Greenhouse Ministries 20 brand new Singer Sewing machines. 

Today, I got to deliver those new machines and guess who was the very first person to dig into the first of 20 boxes? Vanessa Newsome, with tears in her eyes.

By the way, Penny at Singer also had a huge box of scissors, fabric and classroom books for Vanessa and the folks at Greenhouse.. 

Vanessa is seeing her dream of a large scale sewing class for homeless women to fellowship and learn creative new skills become more than a class of three machines. It is bigger than she ever imagined, because she had a vision.

The Value of the Human Touch

Love among those who are homeless is just as real as love among everyone else in this fast paced world. While it sounds somewhat ignorant to make such a statement, I think people often look at those standing on the corner and assume they are incapable of forming a loving relationship.

Two things can be said of this photo that involves two homeless individuals embracing one another outside of a local soup kitchen. One, they are in love and two, while they may not fully understand it, their natural human touch keeps them going.

Psychologist in France once researched the positive side effects of the simple, non-sexual human touch. The results were awakening.

The research found that the more humans touched each other, from a pat on the back to shaking a hand, the less violent they were towards one another. The basic touch built trust. The human touch in communities that worked with one another, had more positive economic gains, decreased disease and stronger immune systems.

Daniel Keltner, the founding director of the Greater Good Science Center and professor of psychology at University of California, Berkeley says, "In recent years, a wave of studies has documented some incredible emotional and physical health benefits that come from touch. This research is suggesting that touch is truly fundamental to human communication, bonding, and health." 

God Forbid You Ever Had to Walk a Mile in his Shoes

Homeless, but smiling and always a positive conversation. 

“God forbid you ever had to walk a mile in his shoes
'Cause then you really might know what it's like to sing the blues
Then you really might know what it's like” – Everlast, What It’s Like

Life can be full of downs, not ups

Life can be full of twists and turns, ups and downs. Sometimes, it seems as if many of us experience more downs than ups.

Jill told me, “I became a drug addict at 14, a meth addict. I got clean when I was 21.” She then jumped to the subject of her mother and talked about how the two of them were best friends while she was clean and sober. The mood then turned somber, “I moved to the state of Washington and my mom got breast cancer – got really sick and then she died about three and a half years ago. And then my life became (pause)… hard.”

The death of Jill’s mother was terribly painful for her as they had built a great relationship while she was clean and off the street. She talked to me about how she turned to alcohol to cope with the loss of her mother.

She continued to talk about the aftermath, “I became an alcoholic and then I got clean. I went into a clean and sober house – I lived there for two years and then things didn’t work out there - I got kicked out. I ended up with some men who sexually abused me and because I told, they put my life on the line so I came out to Tennessee to start a new life with my brother and his family, unfortunately he passed away about a week ago (8/10/16).”

I read her brothers obituary on Friday (8/19/16). His name was Wade and he died at the young age of 49. The obituary from Woodfin Chapel in Smyrna, TN stated, “He was a devoted family man who never met a stranger. Friendly and outgoing, he was liked by all who knew him.” This is her second brother to pass away at an early age. Not to mention the fact that her sister has breast cancer and she is battling the after math of chemo at this time in Washington State.

For so many it is one tragedy after another as they struggle through this thing called life. Jill is in her early thirties, so life can still turn around for her and be great, but there will be a mountain to climb. 

The next plan for Jill is to find a way to get back to Washington State and enroll in a yearlong program to help her continue to stay sober and clean. The program will also address her adult sexual assault and help with childhood sexual drama as well.

While living in a shelter in Murfreesboro, she has tried her hardest to hold down a job. One of those jobs was in Smyrna, but the costs of taxi money quickly lead to her losing the employment. In other words, she was working for enough money to simply afford transportation to and from work. She was then hired as a painter, but quickly fired when the head painter realized she did not have her own brushes or rollers.

Today, she is out of work and continuing to live in an overcrowded shelter. However, she still has that goal of making it back to Washington State where her sister lives and where a yearlong program awaits her arrival. But, the wait will continue as she is finding it impossible to make money, live and save enough for a single bus or plane ticket.

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of those depths.” - Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, a Swiss-American psychiatrist (1926-2004)

The struggle continues.

Hit by a car

51 Year old Kimberly Custer was struck by a motorist on the Murfreesboro square Saturday night. The accident occurred as Custer was walking across the street near Marina’s Restaurant.

Custer, who is deaf, could not hear the oncoming vehicle. Evidently, she did not see the car as it neared her.

The local woman who was described as being homeless, was taken by ambulance to St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro. Her leg was broken in about three places, but no life threatening injuries occurred.

Custer was released from the hospital around 10:30, Saturday night (8/13/16).

Time with her children is precious

I want to thank everyone who helped to put the homeless mother of two in a hotel room for the time that she has with her kids. If you missed my original post, the mother lives in a tent and her children live in a local Christian orphanage, which she placed them in when she became homeless. She will have the children to herself over the next nine days. It will be a great time of bonding. 

The mother was so grateful for the room and the two boys, ages 9 and 10, are very polite. One of you gave me gifts to give them… You can see the excitement in their eyes when they unwrapped them. The mother gave the children the gifts and the kids thought the presents came from her. It was awesome.

I had enough money left over to give her $80 in cash to take the kids out to eat a few nights. I also had to pay a $100 cash deposit with the room, because I did not want to use my credit card. Therefore, when she checks out she will have an additional $100 to purchase food for her camp. 

It was indeed a good day today. 

“I wonder if other mothers feel a tug at their insides, watching their children grow up into the people they themselves wanted so badly to be.” ― Jodi Picoult, bestselling author of twenty-three novels

Judging - Worth Reading...

After he got out of jail the first thing he wanted to do was to hold his cat that he had not seen during the time he was behind bars.

As I sat in his dimly lit motel room with stained sheets on the bed, I watched him play with the young kitten. The world around him was silent. The cat was the one thing in his life that fully accepted him. Despite his drinking, cursing or even anger… the cat was the one constant that never judged anything that he has ever done.

I have used this quote before, but I like it:

“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

In the case of the man photographed:

• His father, who served in Vietnam, died of cancer when he was only a teen.
• One of his twin daughters died at five months of age. The other daughter who is still alive today, has lived with a distant family member since the death of her sister. The last time he saw her was when she was three. Today, the family member lives in another city and will not allow him to see her. Today, she is about 12.
• He has lived on the streets for multiple years fighting alcohol and life.
• One more thing… He went blind at age 15. Today, he is 34.

It’s easier to understand where someone is in life, once you know a few more details about their past.

F President Bush

"Get this on tape, I want the world to hear this... F President Bush, he is a XXXXXXX," he shouted. Then he talked about youth football and how it was harming American kids. 

From Shelbyville, Tennessee

“Sir, welcome to Nashville – where are you from and are you a Christian,” he said to me in a slightly panicked voice as if he were afraid I’d walk away before he could finish his question. I smiled, “Yes… are you?”

He then said to me, “If you saw someone who was homeless who hasn’t eaten in days, would you help them?” I told him that I would and then asked him to point that person out to me.

“Could I please have a dollar,” he asked. “Here’s a dollar, where are you from,” I inquired with curiosity as it seems as if no one is actually from Nashville. He told me, “Shelbyville, Tennessee – about two hours from here.”

He sketches nude women

He was wearing pants that appeared to be made of a sweater, or sweater material. One shoe had shoelaces, the other none. He was crouched down in the shadows of a building in downtown Nashville. Walkers passed by giving an odd glare at his drawings.

My conversation went like this: “So, how long have you been drawing naked women,” I quietly asked. “Ever since I learned how to draw about three years ago,” he told me. He then elaborated on the different poses as he thumbed through twenty or more sketches in his portfolio.

“I just moved to Nashville from Quincy, Illinois,” he said in almost a whisper. “I’m 38.”

“What do you do with your artwork,” I asked him. “I go down to FedEx and I Xerox copies and sell them… If someone wants the original, it costs more,” he told me. “I also draw hermaphrodites,” he said… “My brother use to date one.”

“Art is what you can get away with.” ― Andy Warhol (1928-1987)

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Walking the streets

His cheeks were sunken in, his body frail. It looked as if he had not had a square meal in weeks if not months.

Howard was first sentenced to prison on January 20, 1981. He was later released on parole, but found himself in and out of trouble. Today, he wanders the streets of Nashville in search of change at the age of 57.

“Why did you do to get sentenced to prison,” I asked. “I killed four men in a poker game,” he told me. When I asked him to describe what happened he simply responded, “They cheated me.” I asked, “Do you still play poker?” He told me no with a slight smile. I then asked him, “Do you still kill people?” With a laugh he said, “No, I learned my lesson.”

“I want to quit drinking, I’m tired of this,” he said while looking down at the cracks in the sidewalk. It was as if he and I were the only two on the streets talking. “I’m ready for rehab,” he said with a disappointing frown. I gave him the phone number of a rehab center that offers scholarships for the homeless. He took the number and calmly walked away as if he were about to cry. "I'll call tomorrow," he said when he left.

“Addiction is the primary way people escape the modern world. Unfortunately, it is destroying the modern world.” ― Christyl Rivers

Mechanic Mike

They call him “Mechanic Mike.” He lives atop Hippie Hill in Tennessee and he always has a project beneath his hands.

“Your family – how you feel about yourself and your health – those are the real measure of your success or failure in a human’s short adventure called life.” - Henry "Smokey" Yunick. Smokey was an American mechanic and car designer associated with motorsports. Yunick was deeply involved in the early years of NASCAR. (1923-2001)

Children living as children

She ran freely from one dog to another as if to check on them one by one. She happily lives at Hippie Hill in Tennessee

"Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you." - H. Jackson Brown, Jr..

Good ole' Dwight on Hippie Hill in TN

I shot this at Hippie Hill yesterday. This is Dwight, super nice fella. I went out there with the Beesley Animal Clinic to give free vaccinations for dogs and cats on the hill. The folks really appreciated it. I don't think Dwight's cat was too find of it though, judging by the claws. 

"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it’s time to pause and reflect." ~ Mark Twain

Dog Day at Hippie Hill

Today I got to head out to Hippie Hill with the Beesley Animal Clinic to vaccinate the dogs on the 40+ acre site. This was our 12 month follow up visit to re-vaccinate and provide tags for the animals at the hill, free of charge. The owners were very appreciative of the service.

When I think of Hippie Hill, I think of individual freedom to be yourself.

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams, Live the life you’ve always imagined." ~ Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Have You Met Sonny?

If you have ever been to the Nashville Flea Market at any point in the past 30-years, you have likely met Sonny Helmer. He is a ball of fire at age 86. Sonny sells antique rotary dial phones at the market during the last weekend of each month.

Prior to restoring old phones, he was a musician. In fact, he sings at the market as you walk past his booth. If you tell him your name, he will sing a customized song on the spot using your name while playing his electronic keyboard.

Sonny told me this past Sunday that he was “Almost Famous,” which is also the title of his book.

Sonny spent 70 years in the music business and had played along with great names like Tommy Dorsey, Louis Armstrong and others. He even played trombone with Al Hirt, led a band in the Jackie Gleason night club for five years and spent ten years leading the band at Disneyland in California and later Disney World in Florida.

If you see Sonny, thank him for his service to our country too. During the Korean War, he was a member of the 392nd Army Band.

Pat Steele is an artist

“My name is Pat Steele,” he told me… “I’m 55 years old and life has been a blessing only because of the Lord.”

As we talked it was obvious to me that he is an artist. His art is finding old scraps from buildings that are being torn down and utilizing what he finds to make bed headboards, benches, wall hangings and more. Oh, and he corrected me when I said old buildings by saying, “Some of it’s out of old boats, some of it’s out of old trees, some of it’s out of old buildings.”

He then told me that he loves raw and old material to create new things with: “Anything that is raw – Everything gots’ its own level of respect and I try to respect it. Even people being created in the image of God, even they are something special because you’ll never meet one that’s the same and that kind of stuff interest me.”

About Pat Steele:

“I trained combat engineers for the Army. I got out and couldn’t adjust to society so I got into trouble. 30 years ago I went to prison – got out of prison and was recruited back into the Army, got hurt and couldn’t make an assignment.” 

You can find Mr. Steele at the Nashville, TN Flea Market on the last weekend of each month. There, you can see what his eye sees. 

Artist Peter Max once stated, “I never know what I'm going to put on the canvas. The canvas paints itself. I'm just the middleman.”

He misses her

“I’ve seen - - I don’t know how many friends get murdered and die. I mean, Knoxville is a cool place, but it’s treacherous for the homeless. I’ve seen them die. That’s why I’m up here in West Knoxville,” Steven Henn told me. Evidently, the West Knoxville area is safer for homeless due to the upper income of West Knoxville residents.

The 55 year old then paused while describing his current life, “I lost my girlfriend.” When I asked how she died he said with tears in his eyes, “She… I think her liver… She did not tell me things that were wrong with her because she did not want me to know that she was dying. I knew she was dying, but it happened real quick - - gosh darn I miss her so much.”

His leathery skin was a mix of red and orange. His body covered with scars followed by tattoos.

I asked him about his childhood and he stated, “I was born in Indiana and my dad moved us to North Carolina when I was 13.” He went on to describe the atmosphere of where he spent his teenage years, “Back when I was a kid a guy use to put a gun to our head and he said – You beat this boy up or we’re gonna shoot ya.”

“Poverty entails fear and stress and sometimes depression. It meets a thousand petty humiliations and hardships. Climbing out of poverty by your own efforts that is something on which to pride yourself but poverty itself is romanticized by fools.” - J. K. Rowling, screenwriter and film producer

No substitute for hard work

When I saw him he was talking to someone whom I could not see. The person or persons were in his imagination. I saw that he was agitated at something as he yelled, but when I approached him to talk he was calm, nice and outgoing. He was proud to tell me that he does roadwork for a living.

60 Year old Bill has done roadwork his entire life in East Tennessee. He told me, “I rarely ever get sick because I’m always working outdoors.”

He told me that he loves the Sevierville area, but stated, “I once visited West Virginia and it was beautiful.”

“There is no substitute for hard work.” - Thomas A. Edison