Sumayya (#721) 12-05-14
While sipping a cup of Joe in the Indigo Coffee Shop, I watched Sumayya working diligently on a laptop. She was intent, and clearly not just doing e-mail, or Twittering her life away. Her scarf made me hope that she was Muslim (she was). I envy Jeff Bowen in Toronto, where there seems to be a huge Muslim population from which to draw. Not so in Southwest Florida.
I was delighted when she was happy to talk and be photographed. Sumayya is attending the Cooley School of Law in nearby Riverview, FL. I had not heard of it, but is part of Western Michigan University. See it HERE.
Sumayya is from Syria. Her parents and siblings are in the U.S., but she has lots of other relatives who did not emigrate. They have successfully fled Syria, however. Sumayya says that the conditions are worse than seen on TV. I asked if they went to Turkey. “No, Jordan. It is stable.” I winced. Jordan is politically stable, but geographically vulnerable. I hate to think what would happen if King Abdulla were to exit the scene. Even if the war ended tomorrow, she said that it would take many years to rebuild.
I asked Sumayya if she has experienced discrimination. She said that there was for a couple of years after 911, but not since. The apparent discrimination online is largely due to anonymity, in person there is little.
Bob
Evonski (#720) 12-04-14
It was a cold windy morning in Tampa, when I saw Evonsky briskly walking on the other side of the street. I was headed for the Indigo Coffee Shop, and that's where she turned in. When I got there , she was ordering something very complicated (to me), And REALLY liked it on the first sip. She complimented the barista. As she headed for the door, I intercepted her with my usual request, telling her that I was attracted to her hairstyle. Evonski was a little suspicious, but as she stepped outside, she agreed.
She is a native Floridian from Quincy, in the panhandle. That morning it was snowing in Quincy. She works in downtown Tampa, but was not anxious to tell me where. It's interesting that I've had this reaction in downtown Tampa before – there seems to be a secrecy about the workplace.
She liked the image and gave me her e-mail so that I could send it along. I did. First I assured her that this was a hobby and there was no charge.
Bob
Sunday (#719) 12-02-14
Actually, his name is Dave. So I asked him why he calls himself Sunday.
“It's a long story.”
“I have time.”
“Well, my ex-wife and I owned a house on a beach in Maryland. Next door was a restaurant/bar. On Sundays, a local aerobatic plane club would practice maneuvers over the water, in front of the bar. It became very popular, and the room at the bar overflowed into our yard. During the week people would point at me and say 'Sunday', meaning that on Sunday they'd be in our yard. The name stuck.”
“Now that your ex has the house, what do they call her?”
“I don't know and I don't care.”
“What do YOU call her?”
I'm not sayin'”
Bob
James (#718) 12-01-14
I was looking for strangers with another photographer. James stopped us, he was using a walker with wheels. He recited (unsolicited) Desiderata, a poem by Max Ehrmann, in 1927. This was a LONG poem, and James sounded sure of himself, and eloquent. Maybe some of the words were wrong, I wouldn’t know, but it sure sounded good. He is an orator, if nothing else. Then James asked us for help getting money for lunch.
James said that besides his walker, he usually carries a large rucksack, but the day before it was ransacked. He had been in St. Petersburg, at the VA hospital when the theft occurred. He is a Navy veteran. The scar on his forehead is from a previous mugging.
I never attempt to verify stranger's stories. I report what I am told.
Bob
Joe (#719) 11-29-14
On a recent Saturday, I went to the local Farmers Market, two blocks from home. Usually I go to one 20 miles north. On this particular day I felt lazy and left the camera home. Idiot! There was Joe with a scarf and top hat – a Charles Dickens-like character. When I explained 100 Strangers he was all for it. And it turned out that he was a vendor and wasn't going anywhere. So, a quick four block round trip walk to get what I should have brought anyway.
So I got a few shots that he liked, and I sent them along via e-mail. His business is Bambooty Headgear, unusual clothing items made out of bamboo. Bamboo? Yep, and it feels like fine cloth. He imports the cloth from Asia, cuts the cloth and tie dyes it so that no two items are the same. His site is HERE. (No, Joe's hat is NOT made of bamboo). He is about to open a store, and currently has many wholesale accounts. Lots of ways to make a buck in this world.
After I got home I thought, “Wait a minute, here are unique products, and Christmas is fast approaching!” So, another two block walk.
Coincidentally, last May Joe's girlfriend was my stranger #385.
Bob
Ashley (#718) 11-29-14
Ashley was sitting in front of a yogurt shop, in St. Petersburg. She is from Syracuse, and graduated from High school there 10 years ago (I would not have guessed that long ago).
She LOVED the 100 Strangers project, “That's so cool!” She took my card, and I'll send her a photo. I asked what was the best thing that had happened that day.
“This.”
“Aw, c'mon.”
“No really, this is SO cool!”
young couple walked into the store and Ashley immediately went in. I didn't realize that she was running the business. I was really lucky that we had a few minutes alone.
Bob
Shawnna, (#717) 11-28-14
As I approached Shawnna, in Tampa, I could tell that she was going to ask for a handout. Sure enough, she asked for help in affording lunch. Shawnna has been waiting six months for a disability check. She has seven “messed up” discs in her back. Shawnna had fallen, hitting her head, and was left with brain damage and psychiatric symptoms.
Originally, she was from West Virginia, and came to Tampa four years ago with her boyfriend. She left him 1 ½ years ago when he became abusive. For all of this negativity in her life, Shawnna was smiling and seemed happy the entire time.
Bob
Cloudy (#716) 11-26-14
Actually his name is Adam. Several years ago, he was walking with friends in San Francisco. A woman saw him and mistook him for a friend – a friend who had died. She looked at Adam, shrieked, looked up at the cloudy skies and held up her hands in apparent exultation. Adam's friends figured that she saw him in the clouds, and called him cloudy. The nickname stuck.
I saw him in a more secular light, playing a small accordion in Tampa. In front of him was his hat and a sign, “Anything helps, God bless.” Two large dogs were at his side, one of which did not approve of my presence. From San Francisco he moved to Minnesota, then Tampa – a good decision. I said that the dogs must be expensive to maintain. Cloudy said, not so much. Many people overbuy dog food and donate it to the Humane Society, Cloudy gets high quality food from there – cheap.
I asked about the best thing that had happened that morning. “All is good today, the weather and tips are good.” While we spoke (and he wasn't playing), two passersby dropped bills into his hat.
Bob
Zora (#715) 11-25-14
I visited the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, in Tampa. A collection of images by Howard Buffet (Warren Buffet's son) attracted me. Zora greeted me at the front desk, checked my membership card, and validated my parking ticket – saving me about $10.
Zora is originally from Czechoslovakia, and has the delightful accent to back it up. She has a doctorate in education, and has been the Director Gallery Art Factory in Prague. Zora has been director of the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts since May, and laments that she is woefully understaffed. The morning that I arrived, she was “manning” the front desk, answering the phone, and probably sweeping the floor; she was alone. Quickly, as a member she tried to recruit me to volunteer at the front desk to answer phones, etc. She looked a little crestfallen when I told her that I lived 75 miles away.
I told Zora that a few months earlier, I had met volunteer Kento (Flickr Stranger #388 ) and photographed him in the same seat in which she was sitting. Zora was very complimentary of Kento's efforts, and agreed to be photographed.
My usual plea to 'not smile for the camera' was totally unnecessary. Zora has clearly been photographed many times in the past, and immediately assumed professional-like poses.
Bob
Bella (#714) 11-24-14
I saw Bella in front of The Connection Cafe, in Bradenton. She is a 10% owner. The restaurant is only ½ block off of Main Street; it has low rent, but the location is lousy. Bella was totally running the restaurant that day; she was the waitress, cook, bus person, etc. Her father was Cuban, and being half Cuban, she makes good Cuban food. I had a Cuban sandwich, and it had the flat, crisp panini that is the hallmark of excellence.
Bella graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 1991. She lives in the Bradenton art district, and loves painting and illustration. Her art presence is Bella and the Beasts – she loves painting animals. There was one illustration in the restaurant. I thought that it was a painting, but she explained that it was an illustration, composed on 300 lb. Rag paper.
In the past, Bella has also photographed, using Nikon, Yashica, and Leica cameras.
Bob
Christopher (#713) 11-23-14
Christopher was sitting on a bench in downtown Tampa, FL. He was happy to be photographed and crushed out his cigarette first. Originally from California, he graduated from local King High School, and works at adjacent Holy Hog Barbeque. Recently this location was a Quiznos sandwich shop, but he did not work there.
While we spoke, a woman in an apron came into the restaurant doorway and yelled, “Christopher, do you still work here, or you a photography model now?” He sheepishly smiled and scurried inside. As I left, I saw Christopher working the business end of a broom.
Bob
Devi (#712) 11-22-14
I saw Devi sitting with previous (Flickr) stranger #441, Jeff, . I asked Jeff if he'd introduce me to his friend. Of course, I first misunderstood and thought she was Debbie. No, Devi.
She left Maryland five years ago to come to Florida. I asked how long she had known Jeff. He piped up and said over a year. Devi rolled her eyes and said, “Too Long.” I said that this sounds like the old line, “We've been married 30 wonderful years, 36 in all.” They chuckled.
Devi is a pharmacist by training. She owns Comfort IV Therapy, and provides infusion therapy in the patient's home. Her site is HERE. She provides patients to remain at home during chemotherapy, intravenous nutritional therapy, and a host of services that required hospitalization in the past.
Bob
Emanuel (#711) 11-21-14
Emanuel was reading a book on a bench, in front of the courthouse in Bradenton, FL. He wore a plastic helmet, which made me think that he might be a construction worker on break. When I approached him, Emanuel was affable and was happy to be photographed. The concept of 100 Strangers did not interest him, however; he was doing this as a favor.
The book that he was reading was about abnormal psychology. It looked like heavy reading, and Emanuel was making extensive notations in the margins. He said, “I'm not crazy or nothin'”, with a grin. Someone obtained legal possession of his house, and he was researching how to get it back. Emanuel is confident that he will gain repossession.
I asked if he worked around the courthouse. He laughed, shaking his head 'no', and showed me a tag on a chain around his neck. It had his name, and the words “Open Door.” Open door is a resource center for the homeless. Read about it HERE. A wonderfully altruistic concept, but notice the restricted hours: 8AM – 2PM, Mondays through Fridays.
Bob
Christine and Kim (#710) 20-11-14
Sitting at an outdoor table, Christina and Kim were taking photos of each other with their cellphones. Obviously they were in the photographic mood, so I made my move. They were very agreeable, but a little wary of an old guy with a camera and an unusual hobby.
Christina is from Boston, with only the slightest hint of an accent. She actually prefers Boston to Florida, and I suspect that her residency here will be short lived. She works at the Longboat Key club, a very tony establishment.
Kim works two jobs, an unlikely combination. She is a Certified Nurse assistant, and does private duty nursing, often in the two local hospitals. Her other job (drum roll...) is making sandwiches at a local Subway sandwich shop. This seems like a sad waste of talent to me, but what do I know?
Both of them liked their images. Neither of them wanted copies. That pretty well puts me in my place. Again.
Bob
Bill (#709) 11-19-14
Another photographer and I saw Bill sipping a cup of Joe. His hat and beard made him look interesting, and we were not disappointed. Bill had no reservations about being photographed, or being interviewed as a Stranger.
On the contrary, Bill spoke passionately for 20 minutes, about everything, and so fast that I could not write it down. He recited all of the reasons that our society and government has crumbled, with numbers and strong opinions to back it all up. He has lived virtually everywhere. Bill and his son will soon move to South America. When I asked which country he shrugged and said, “We'll find one.” The implication was that living in ANY South American country would be better than living in the U.S.
When he stood, an obvious orthopedic boot was on his left foot. This was the result of an auto accident, where Bill's car was hit by a drunk driver. Hopefully there are no drunk drivers in South America.
Bob
Debra (#708) 11-18-14
I rested (photography is so tough) on an outdoor bench, when Debra came along furiously photographing with a full frame Canon. She is originally from Quebec, but most recently from Ontario. She has only four more days visiting Sarasota. “I just get pictures of angles and light formations that I like.
When she saw my mirrorless Olympus camera, she said that she had considered mirrorless, particularly Fuji. She got cold feet and backed out. I told her that I have a friend with a full frame Canon and a Canon mirrorless backup. I assume that the menu systems share common logic and this might be the way to go.
She asked where U.S. 301 was. I pointed east and said that was six or eight blocks. She thanked me and strode off as if it were 100 yards.
Bob.
Roy (#707) 11-17-14
Dr. Roy Truby, Ed D., has been commissioner of Education in Idaho and West Virginia. And I met him at my favorite outdoor bar, smoking his weekly cigar. It is my favorite bar for photography, not imbibing. It seemed like an unlikely place to meet an educator.
Roy also served as superintendent of Schools in a region of South Carolina including Greenville. I told him that years ago, the Superintendent of Schools in Lee County (Ft. Myers) was murdered in his office bu a disgruntled parent. Roy nodded knowingly. His area in South Carolina included Bob Jones University (EXTREMELY conservative) and the French-owned Michelin factory, with a decidedly liberal flavor. When the School Board had to formulate a sex education policy, Roy occasionally had police protection. More about Roy is HERE.
I forget how we segued into his son, but he told me to Google Mark Truby. I did. He's the Vice President of Ford Motor Company Europe. Executives in Europe have perks not available in America. Besides a substantial salary (no doubt with stock options), he gets a palatial house with domestic help, cars (no surprise) a virtually unlimited travel budget, etc. His living quarters are free and he still owns his two homes in Detroit – not sure how great that is. More about Mark Truby is HERE.
Bob
Heather and Kaleen (#706) 11-16-14
Kaleen and Heather were sitting on the grass in a downtown park. It was late afternoon. I seldom photograph in that location because the sunlight is harsh, but at this time of day, it seemed useable. Both were anxious to be photographed, but reticent to say much more. I hope that I spelled Kaleen correctly, I forget if there is a 'Y' or not. Heather was playing a guitar. She is a Venice High School graduate, but 'several' years after me.
Kaleen
Heather said that the light should be good for portraits, and pointed to a tall bright building that was reflecting light. I said, “Whoa, most people wouldn't notice that.” She has photographed a couple of friend's weddings, “Very high stress.” :-)
Heather
