Richard stood alone near Church and Main to avoid the hail and snow whipping down Main Street. He wasn’t with his buddy Mike. “Mike got real crazy hoofing starter fluid. Needed to leave him alone….”
Category: photography
Phil at the Fishing Pier
Weather chilly. Phil rode his bike down the hill. Comes here everyday. He awaits the Spring to cookout behind the water treatment building or at North Beach.
Muskrat slides on the ice, seeking cover, blending in to the winter cover colors.
Phil’s off on his bike to the library. Well maintained, the parts come from spares he gathers from well-off UVM students who also help him with bottles when he needs some tobacco money. Sturdy and reliable transportation, doctor told him, “bicycle riding is good for the heart.” He says, despite some pressing health problems, that he always has a good day. Talking with him made mine.
Teena and Michael on Main
Teena and Michael sit on Main St. Can’t go to Turning Point, a drop in, because it only opens for meetings.
Judge Costello Courthouse Clock
How can you give people time or fine them for not being on time when the clock on the courthouse doesn’t work. Not only doesn’t it work, but the faces don’t have the same times.
Neisha Kaitlyn and Pandora
Texting, knitting, sitting and staring. Boys boxed. “It it fake or real,” I asked. “Fake,” said Kaitlyn.
Larry Bottle Guy
Larry relaxes after picking up bottles. Rolls a cigarette. Kicks back.
He said his brother died last spring. He took over the bottle business. “You should see me with a full load.”
He does what he has to do to survive.
Karl Berry, Sr.
So, I have been learning from the people of Burlington about life in the Queen City, making friends on the street. Ever meet a poet? Came upon him one day in the park.
He’s writing a book of poetry. Needs photos for his social media and for the book jacket. We be working with each other’s lives.
Pete Two Does Bottles
You know the guy came a long way back. He has a place to live, but not a lot of spare change or change to spare. So he does bottles down near the food shelf. Not healthy enough to walk, he takes the bus and then gets lunch.
Lone Sailor Tests Lake Champlain
He stands tall, despite the cold. Undervalued, underused, and under appreciated. But he doesn’t give up.
Becky On Cherry
I saw her on a milk crate near Ben and Jerry’s. She looked young, cold, and sad. “Need some food,” I asked? “I need cat food,” she replied. I gasped, immediately thinking she would eat cat food as a tuna substitute. “Do you have enough money for food?” “Yeh, my boyfriend gets SSI and we do a little work, but its barely enough to cover rent and food. I don’t usually come out her to sit. I just need some money to feed my three cats.”