The grave

It has been years since this man has visited the grave of his daughter. With that in mind, he said he needed closure. It was midnight, but that didn't matter to this father who was in pain emotionally. So we took the one hour road trip to visit the grave, not knowing where it was located in the massive Nashville area cemetery. We searched with flash lights, but left two hours later without finding it. 

You may be curious as to why this father did not remember where the grave was located considering he was at the funeral in 2008? The reason is because he is completely blind. He has never seen it, only touched it. 

We returned several days later when the cemetery office was open and in the daylight. With the help of staff, the grave-site was located and this father was able to say his final goodbyes, something that he had wanted to do for over six years. He kneeled next to the grave on the damp grass and slowly rubbed his fingers over her name tracing it back and fourth. It was an awesome sight. 

He left with a smile and a slight tear. 

A little smoke break

I love Nashville at night, especially downtown. You see so many interesting people. On this evening I saw this man lighting his cigarette. I took a quick picture of him and he looked up and kindly said, "I'm sorry." He thought he was in the way, but in reality I was capturing him. 

Quiet peace

This is a photo of a man covered in a comforter that someone gave him on the streets of Nashville, TN. In the background, you can see the beautiful Tennessee Capital building.

A friend and I delivered this man a warm bowl of freshly made grits that one of the cooks gave us at Puckett's Grocery. We told the cook that the man needed some warm soup, but they did not have any on hand. He smiled and told us he had something better than soup. I would agree, their grits are amazing. This homeless man also agreed. 

Life is beautiful when you take the time to help others. Regardless of how small the task may be.

Don't give away...

"Don't give away anything you could sell," he told me as he slowly lowered his cigarette. I quietly snapped the photo and walked away. Advice from the homeless - I should start a book. They often have better and more down to earth advice than the bankers, lawyers and doctors I know. 

Life, always interesting to me. 

Card Tricks

Step right up, let me show you a card trick... Stop me if you have heard that before. I met this man in Nashville, but he told me he is actually from Louisiana. He was just passing through. 

“Everyone should be able to do one card trick, tell two jokes, and recite three poems, in case they are ever trapped in an elevator.” ― Lemony Snicket

Overwhelming sadness

His name is not Marshall and he does not work for a full service truck company. Someone kindly gave him the jacket. I have shot pictures of this man before in Nashville.

He talks extremely quiet and has no place to call home. He told me once that his family kicked him out. 

In May of 2014 I wrote in my notes, "I could see an overwhelming sadness in his eyes as he started to talk about his family and how they left him. He told me he has no one. His story then went from a happy request for beer money, to his life and where he stands today." 

I want to have two kids of my own

"I'm 46... I want to have at least two children when I find the right man," she told me. I asked (while glancing at her boyfriend sitting on a nearby park bench), "Do you think you found the right man?" Her response... "I think so."

The two are homeless and live under a bridge in Tennessee. 

Life can be beautiful, despite your circumstance

This beautiful woman has been homeless for over a year. Most of that time has been spent living behind an old Kroger store that is now an empty shell. Despite hardships, she told me some very positive news. She said she has been clean from Heroin for the past 7-years. She also said that she has been clean from Crack for the past 2-years and free from smoking cigarettes for the past month. I think that is worth celebrating. 

Hello Mr. North

He smiled as he stated to me... "Hello Mr. North." I said, "Hi, do you need a blanket for tonight? It is 33-degrees and that leather jacket does not look warm." He responded, "No, I will be alright Mr. North, I'll be alright. I'm gonna sleep right here. Right here Mr. North."

As he spoke he continuously folded a small piece of paper between his fingers switching from the right hand to the left. "Have you done any drugs tonight?" I asked out of concern. "No, no Mr. North - drugs are not good for you. I was told never to do drugs or drink," he said with a smile.

He called me Mr. North because I was wearing a North Face coat. Mental illness is very much alive on the streets and in homeless communities all over our country. 

I want to spank you!

Something you don't expect to hear on a busy street by a passing woman... "I want to spank you." That is exactly what the woman in the hat stated to the man laughing. I happened to catch it as she was finishing her sentence. She suggested that she gets paid to spank people and wanted to just offer a little "Tap, tap." By the way, no one took her up on the offer for the spanking. 

Watch this...

When I am doing street photography, I love hearing the magic words "Watch this." This man said those two words and then jumped on top of a trash can. He then jumped back down as his friend reminded him that he has already been arrested six times in the past few days. His response, "But, the police like me." 

My son is in the hospital

This woman just told me that her son is at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville and is suffering from an extremely serious illness. This was the look on her face as she described that situation to me. 

“I don’t know what they are called, the spaces between seconds– but I think of you always in those intervals.” ― Salvador Plascencia

I'm happy, are you?

“For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.” 
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Lonely night

“Sometimes loneliness makes the loudest noise.” - Aaron Ben-Ze'ev

Her kindness

I met this woman in La Represa, Dominican Republic. She was sitting on her front porch when she heard me walk up. She quickly grabbed a bowl of freshly dried rice and offered me some. It always makes me smile when someone who has little, is fast to offer others a lot. 

“Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” ― Mark Twain

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. 

Santa Baby

Santa honey, there's one thing I really do need,
The deed - To a platinum mine,
Santa honey, so hurry down the chimney tonight.

"Santa Baby" was written by J. Javits, P. Springer, T. Springer.

Crawling out from behind a tarp

Crawling out from behind a tarp the man looked at me... I asked, "Do you need any food?" He asked, "What do you have?" I said, "Well, let's go to the truck and see." He walked away with not only food, but also blankets, boots and more.

"To live without Hope is to Cease to live." - Fyodor Dostoevsky

My quiet life

This man quietly lives in the woods without bothering a soul. He sleeps on the ground under a tarp that is hanging between two trees. Each morning that lacks rain, he hangs his sleeping bag to dry (behind him). 

Thanks to a kind friend, this man is now living in a tent. Prior to tonight, he was living under a tarp on the cold wet ground in 40-degree weather with the rain pouring down. 

My thought... help others even if you think you look silly doing so. 

“Live life as though nobody is watching, and express yourself as though everyone is listening.” ― Nelson Mandela

The stare of hard work and a hard life

For this photo, I relate it to a poem by Robert Frost called Acquainted with the Night...

I have been one acquainted with the night.
I have walked out in rain—and back in rain.
I have outwalked the furthest city light.

I have looked down the saddest city lane.
I have passed by the watchman on his beat
And dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain.

I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet
When far away an interrupted cry
Came over houses from another street,

But not to call me back or say good-bye;
And further still at an unearthly height,
One luminary clock against the sky

Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right. 
I have been one acquainted with the night.