Time Less Images

I am very shy, except...

with strangers. I now freeze if asked: How do you do?". Do they care, these individuals from a past life? I've had some hard times. Do they want to know? Do they really have the time? It may take a while.

I'm ready with a quick response if the person stinks of alcohol, or body odor, or, like pig-pen, is in need of a bath ("Pig-Pen" is a character in the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz. He is a young boy who is, except on very rare occasions, very dirty). Many of the people I live with are very, very dirty.

I know that these people, the downtrodden, don't want to know how I am. They'd be more likely to ask me for "spare change", or a cigarette, than ask about my feelings. I feel like I've learned a new language over the past year. The actual vocabulary, the spoken word, is less important than the inflection, or the body language. This is not a language "bogged" down by "sweet nothings", pleasantries or even greetings or salutations.

This very morning I had placed my wallet on the table next to my cot. I was about to put on my boots. In addition to a new language, my survival depends upon the development of a radar sense that extends around my body in a circle with a diameter of 4-5 feet. My wallet hadn't been on the table for no more than 20-30 seconds. As my toes were about to enter the boot, I sensed a hand reaching for the wallet. I quickly switched gears and smashed the boot (a heavy, ribbed sole, hiking boot) down on the hand.

I, and my new neighbor, had just exchanged greetings, introductions. Such are the pleasantries of the homeless.

May I recommend for your enjoyment: The last time a woman told me to take off my pants

You may also enjoy reading: I wouldn't shake his hand

I am by no means ready to die! So, with that fact established, let's begin at the beginning: See links for all the Genesis posts to date: Genesis Through My Eyes

In my not too distant past, if I were to see a street person, a bum, sleeping in a door front or on a park bench, I would have kept my distance and perhaps shrugged my shoulders.: He had the "smarts" to ask someone where to go, I didn't

Fortune has allowed me to come full circle and return to my earlier interest in photography. I am at that age were some weight loss would be beneficial. I certainly don't believe all photographers need to starve, but my initial goals are realistic, if not humble. The industry has changed tremendously, but the possibilities are unlimited. I am grateful that my parents' gave me a generic name. It's allowed me to explore numerous paths unhindered.

"I continue to seek exquisite beauty in my images, exploring all techniques, old and new".

web blog: Epicurean Health

web blog: Comics Legends and Lore

web blog: Timeless Snippets

Putting your best foot forward

Many years ago I had invited some couples over for a dinner. The meal was roast rabbit. When the guests arrived, they were greeted at my front door with a fresh rabbit pelt. The meal, the evening was not a success. I don't think I put my best foot forward.

I live in a city with very good public transportation. However, every day when I enter a certain transit station I encounter a sight which disturbs me. The first thing you see is a large fan near the entrance. The fan is secured by an equally large chain. The links on the chain remind me of an anchor. They are large, rusty, they look like they have held ships in salt water.

I can't help but think that the transit authority is making a statement. They certainly could have chosen a less obtrusive, a more subtle method to secure the fan. I've seen many expensive pieces of equipment in other public areas bolted into a concrete floor.

There is no sign on the fan, but the message is clear. The transit authorities want every tourist, every working stiff that passes this fan to know how they feel.

"Hello tourists and hello working stiffs. We welcome you, but we don't trust you. We know, that you would steal this 8 foot, 200 pound fan in a heartbeat if we did not use this chain. Also, welcome to Boston"

May I recommend for your enjoyment: If it doesn't really take much time and effort to chew your food

You may also enjoy reading: The fortune in the cookie read:

I am by no means ready to die! So, with that fact established, let's begin at the beginning: See links for all the Genesis posts to date: Genesis Through My Eyes

In my not too distant past, if I were to see a street person, a bum, sleeping in a door front or on a park bench, I would have kept my distance and perhaps shrugged my shoulders.: He had the "smarts" to ask someone where to go, I didn't

Fortune has allowed me to come full circle and return to my earlier interest in photography. I am at that age were some weight loss would be beneficial. I certainly don't believe all photographers need to starve, but my initial goals are realistic, if not humble. The industry has changed tremendously, but the possibilities are unlimited. I am grateful that my parents' gave me a generic name. It's allowed me to explore numerous paths unhindered.

"I continue to seek exquisite beauty in my images, exploring all techniques, old and new".

web blog: Epicurean Health

web blog: Comics Legends and Lore

web blog: Timeless Snippets

So many things sap my energy

...my vitality. I saw an ad the other day, it was on the web (should be good, right?) and, I must admit, I was tempted. The web site was LuckyVitamin.com. I was interested in the longevity, anti-aging supplements for men.

However, I think I need more. There are a couple of guys in the shelter who work out regularly. They drink protein shakes. I used to drink protein shakes in another life. I think I should start again.

Even the strongest man alive, will probably become a victim of disease if he walks into a disease-infected room. I live in a disease-infected building. I sleep in a disease-infected room. I sleep in a dorm with 50 coughing, hacking, sneezing, sick men. Until a few weeks ago I avoided one snotty nosed old geezer like the plague. Now I am surrounded by a hoard of young, middle aged, and quite a few very old and very snotty nosed men (men with a runny nose, not men I can not stand...although there are some I can not stand!).

Many years ago, when I was in the Peace Corps, I spent some time in a village that was known to have the bubonic plague. I didn't know this fact at the time. There were no signs, no loudspeakers announcing "plague ahead, proceed with caution". Bubonic plague symptoms appear suddenly, usually after 2 - 5 days of exposure to the bacteria. Symptoms include:

• Chills
  
• Fever
  
• General ill feeling (malaise)
  
• Headache
  
• Muscle pain
  
• Seizures
  
• Smooth, painful lymph gland swelling called a bubo

Sometimes I just get flat-out too tired to make the effort to even worry. No, I don't really think I need to worry about the plague. But, tuberculosis is frighteningly common among homeless people. I saw a quotation today that I am going to try to take to heart.

Your eye is the lamp of your body. When thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light. ... Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. Luke 11:34–35

I'm gonna keep my eye single...my eye on the ball. I'm gonna follow the details of those events, the actions of those people, who can most impact my future, not my present. I won't despair! Instead, I'll stay focused and keep my eye on the prize. I'll stay focused, positive and strong! Stability is a realistic achievement. If you, gentle reader, have some time on your hands, here's a list of some of the illnesses, mental disorders and other various and sundry issues that keep me awake at night. Enjoy!

Medical problems common among homeless people:

• Infectious diseases: HIV, TB, STD's, respiratory infections, infestations (scabies, lice, etc.), skin infection chronic viral hepatitis.
  
• Muscle skeletal problems: foot diseases, post-traumatic arthritis, chronic pain syndromes.
  
• Psychiatric disease: Underlying severe mental illness, undiagnosed mental illness, post traumatic stress disorder and other resultant mental illness from homelessness.
  
• Substance abuse related illness: Permanent sequelae (a pathological condition resulting from a disease, injury, or other trauma) of substance abuse, brain dysfunction liver disease, lung and heart disease.
  
• Chronic diseases: diabetes, hypertension, COPD.
  
• Diseases of neglect: nutritional problems, dental disease.

 

May I recommend for your enjoyment: Happy with who and what I am

You may also enjoy reading: The fortune in the cookie read:

I am by no means ready to die! So, with that fact established, let's begin at the beginning: See links for all the Genesis posts to date: Genesis Through My Eyes

In my not too distant past, if I were to see a street person, a bum, sleeping in a door front or on a park bench, I would have kept my distance and perhaps shrugged my shoulders.: He had the "smarts" to ask someone where to go, I didn't

Fortune has allowed me to come full circle and return to my earlier interest in photography. I am at that age were some weight loss would be beneficial. I certainly don't believe all photographers need to starve, but my initial goals are realistic, if not humble. The industry has changed tremendously, but the possibilities are unlimited. I am grateful that my parents' gave me a generic name. It's allowed me to explore numerous paths unhindered.

"I continue to seek exquisite beauty in my images, exploring all techniques, old and new".

web blog: Epicurean Health

web blog: Comics Legends and Lore

web blog: Timeless Snippets