I asked this homeless gentleman in New York where he was from... He smiled and said, "Haiti." I asked, "Would you prefer to be back in Haiti or would you rather be homeless in New York?" He chuckled... "New York."
Sometimes, what looks like a curse is actually a blessing. We are just looking at it the wrong way.
Rutgers University anthropologist and human behavior researcher Helen Fisher stated, "Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere; some say the poorest in the world."
Dreams can be much better than reality
Asleep in a subway station located in New York. Perhaps he was dreaming of a nice bed next to a warm fire as the temperature outside was 30-degrees. Malcolm Forbes, an American entrepreneur and publisher of Forbes Magazine, made a good point a number of years before his death in 1990, "When you cease to dream you cease to live."
America is a melting pot
Regardless of what your political belief's may be, Jimmy Carter made a very positive point when he stated, "We become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams."
I retired from the New York Stock Exchange... Now I hold a sign
"I use to work there [pointing at the New York Stock Exchange]..." I asked, "What did you do?" He told me he delivered mail in the building at the different offices for well over 20-years. He is now retired.
I met this man on Wall Street in New York earlier this month. He was holding a sign that said, "Christ Jesus came to the world to save sinners." He smiled and told me that he was saved and soon after, he retired from the New York Stock Exchange.
Norman Rockwell
I often take photos that I later look back on and say to myself, "That is not a very good photo, but I like the person pictured." This was one of those photos. The picture itself is far from remarkable, but the man in front of the lens has a face that tells a story.
Read MoreI got shot!
"I got shot about 20-years ago, I have been paralyzed ever since," he told me. I asked what led to the shooting? At the same time that I asked that question an older man approached along with a person who appeared to be a home healthcare nurse...
Read More"I have heart problems"
"I always sit here, these folks have really helped me (pointing towards a local business in Manhattan)." "I have heart problems, but I'm getting better," he said with a smile.
"Fall seven times and stand up eight." -Japanese Proverb
A crazy little park
These men and women came running through Central Park in their underwear and some random guy came up to them and started pouring his water bottle out on the two guys in the group. The temperature outside was about 45-degrees when this nuttiness occurred. This craziness is why I love NY.
“Here's all you have to know about men and women: women are crazy, men are stupid. And the main reason women are crazy is that men are stupid.” ― George Carlin
Yummy pastries
Julia Child once said, "I was 32 when I started cooking; up until then, I just ate."
Jesus Loves You, even in a NY subway
I spotted this elderly woman in a subway station under the roads of New York City. By number of stations, New York has the largest subway system in the world and you never know who you will see or what you will see people doing. This woman has decided to tell others that Jesus loves them. It is a simple task that she told me she was called to do.
Pastor Rick Warren once stated, "God is looking for people to use, and if you can get usable, he will wear you out. The most dangerous prayer you can pray is this: 'Use me.'" I smile when I see people being worn out :)
We all have a job
Throughout the morning, this homeless man in New York opens the door for McDonalds guest. He stands on the ready holding the door open with his foot as he sees guest about to exit. To him, this is his job.
“Every man is a hero if he strives more for others than for himself alone.” ― Lloyd Alexander
Location: McDonald's 972 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10018
I have a Masters Degree and once shot with a Leica
As I snapped a photo of him he said, "I use to be a professional photographer, I traveled all over the world." He spoke very clearly. No mumbling, pronouncing every word as if he were reading from a dictionary. It was obvious that he was educated however, depression was much to strong of an enemy to simply overcome.
Read MoreThe Chinatown Smoke Break
Chinatown street photography: It is a clash of cultures in Chinatown, which is located in Lower Manhattan. The population in the small area is estimated to be about 100,000 residents. It is actually the oldest ethnic Chinese population area outside of Asia.
Read MoreA motorcycle wreck landed him on the streets
As he came out of his tent I noticed he had trouble balancing. He stepped out and used a milk crate as a seat to sit down and lace his boots. He had to tie the boots by placing the shoelace into the creases of his hands because he could not fully bend his fingers as his hands were in a fixed position.
I asked, "Do you have arthritis?" He said, "No, I had a motorcycle accident a number of years ago and broke my back. It took me months to learn how to walk again. I never regained the full use of my hands. It was the second time I had an accident, only this time it was much worse then the first." I asked him what kind of bike he was on and he smiled, "It was on my Harley." He laughed and told me. "The wreck was in my own back yard... I knew there was a hole in the ground, just didn't see it."
Could I have some money?
"Where are you from," he asked me as I neared? "Tennessee, I'm from Tennessee," I said with a smile. He stood up from the chair he was sitting in and asked, "Could I have some money? I have a problem. Could you buy me some alcohol, the liquor store is over there (pointing towards 35th Avenue in New York City)." His eyes were slightly discolored yellow...
Read MoreBlindness in New York
“Death is no more than passing from one room into another. But there's a difference for me, you know. Because in that other room I shall be able to see.” ― Helen Keller
Read MoreRest in Peace Sarge, a.k.a. Cowboy
His real name was Randall Allen White. Ironically, he was found just a couple of days after my friend and I went to check on him during the cold weather streak that broke out in February...
Read MoreTake the picture, now go "F" yourself
As I approached him I tried to start a conversation, but it was not going anywhere. I lifted my camera to my eye and he said, "Take the photo!" I clicked and I heard, "Now go F*$# yourself!" I smiled and said thanks - will do, or something along those lines.
"You can't please everyone, and you can't make everyone like you." - Katie Couric
The Giver
This is one of the most amazing homeless men I have ever met. He lives in a cargo van parked in downtown Washington, DC. The van does not move as it is broken down. Police overlook it when writing ticket's.
Read MoreAcid poured on my legs
I had to lean in close to hear her as she was very soft spoken, but friendly. “Why do you have a walker,” I asked with curiosity? She said, “A homeless woman poured acid on my left leg, I spent 32-days in the hospital and my muscle was fully exposed.” She told me that she too was homeless at the time, but is now staying at a shelter in Washington, DC.