So I went downtown this evening for a client project. After that work was over, I decided to go to the Old Market for some happy hour specials at one of my favorite restaurants/watering holes in the downtown area (Rock Bottom — they have good food specials starting at 9!). I had about 20 minutes to spare, so went for a walk.

 

 

Just a couple minutes into my walk, I passed an apparently homeless man in a downtown park.  He had a box of food, which looked like restaurant takeout. It was signed by someone; probably the person who gave it to him. His clothes were dirty, with splotches of pigeon crap dotting his gray jacket. I bid him good evening, but then he started following me. I turned to talk to him, expecting him to ask me for money as has been an infrequent past experience downtown. Instead, in somewhat broken speech and struggling for words, he said “I’m Don.  I saw… you… photography. I… photographer too.”  Not really sure what else to say, I asked him what were his favorite things to take pictures of.  ”Angles. Shapes. So much… beauty… here. Seasons and night and morning. I was an artist, you know. I draw… pencils.  Shapes.  Lines.  Nature, scenery. I like nature a lot. And landscapes. Downtown, the buildings. Shapes, like squares, rectangles, and pyramids. I really like pyramids. We don’t have pyramids here. What are they again, three sides? Four sides at the bottom? I don’t remember… I… wish I remembered… wish I did. Pyramids.”     “What do you draw with?”   “Oh, anything. Pens. Pencils. I like colors, I really like colors. The blue sky, the green grass – look at those colors now! Look at it.”

“I’m Don. Who… what is your name?”  ”I’m Joel.”  ”Zhol. Zhol.  That’s a… what is it… a very unique name. Zhol.”

“You do photography? Like art, light, colors? I like art. I used to draw a lot when I had a home. Now I can’t. I heard they have… what do you call them… they have… art… classes… at some place, maybe a community center. I have to take the bus to go there. If I could go there I could draw. Tell what I see. Make pictures of beauty.”

“I’m Don. What is your name? Glad… to meet you. Your name is? You do photography?”

 

 

I hope Don does take the bus fare and go to the community center (I’m not even sure where it is) to pursue drawing, as opposed to other things that a dollar and some change could be spent on in the downtown area (which I guess isn’t much).  I guess I’ll never know.