John
I was visiting with Jeanette, a classmate of mine, on campus when he approached, trailing his rollerboard suitcase, and asked for directions to a city information bureau. He had a British accent and friendly manner. He had just gotten off the bus from Buffalo and had walked a couple of blocks to where we met. He is visiting Toronto from Coventry England. Jeanette was just on her way to meet a friend so I told him I would give him directions. He seemed an interesting fellow so we stood on the street chatting for a few minutes. He was surprised (and pleased) that I knew of Coventry because, as he said, many people draw a blank when he mentions it. It is famous for its cathedral, among other things. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coventry) We shook hands. Meet John from Coventry.
John is 84 and is retired from a career in the plastics manufacturing industry. “Do you know of bakelite?” he asked. “Yes, I do.” “Well my career didn’t have anything to do with bakelite” he said with a wry smile, but with other forms of plastic. “Were you a chemical engineer?” I asked, trying to get a handle on his expertise. “Well, you’re glorifying me just a bit” he said. Call it a “production manager.”
John has arrived in Toronto to spend the final week of his holiday getting to know this part of Canada. He started out in New York before going to Buffalo prior to his arrival in Toronto. He had the name and address of a hostel to stay at but wanted to get to the visitor’s bureau for maps and other suggestions for his week in the city. I told him there is an office nearby and said I would walk him over but first I wanted to invite him to join my Human Family photography project. “Sure” he said. “I’d be glad to.” I asked him if he’s ever heard of Humans of New York. “Can’t say that I have” he replied. “Good” I continued, because this isn’t quite the same.” We laughed as I got even with him for his use of bakelite as an example of what he had not worked with. John had that friendly, dry wit which we often associate with the British.
As we moved out of the direct afternoon sunlight to a rather grungy nearby loading dock which offered diffuse light, John said he had been interested in photography in past years. “Have you ever worked with wet plates?” Wow. I feel that my past experience with developing 35mm black and white film sets me apart from most people I know and here’s a guy who has worked with wet plates! Photos taken, we continued to chat and he was a fascinating man. “What has been your biggest surprise so far on this trip?” I asked. “I had no idea that Buffalo had a load of Frank Lloyd Wright homes so that was a fantastic treat. I had architecture student flatmates when I was in school and some of it rubbed off on me. I really appreciate architecture.” (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Lloyd_Wright) I asked if he’d seen Niagara Falls and he said “Oh yes. I couldn’t be that close to the Falls without taking the boat tour and getting myself soaked in the spray!” I asked if he traveled a lot and he said “There were a number of years when I was unable to travel, so now I’m trying to make up for it.” What a guy.
When I asked about the greatest challenge he’s faced in life he said “I can’t really give you an answer to that one so I’ll just take a pass.” “How about a message to share through my project?” “Well” he said, “don’t give people advice because given a bit of encouragement they can usually figure things out for themselves using their own resources.” A most interesting message. “What did you like most about your career in the plastics manufacturing industry?” “I’d say the greatest satisfaction was in getting people to do what they really didn’t want to do” he said. “Oh, so you’re a very persuasive guy?” “No, you don’t get it” he said. “You don’t persuade; you encourage them to come up with the idea themselves and volunteer to do it!” I couldn’t help laughing. What an interesting and clever fellow.
I asked if he had an email address to send his photo to and he said “I’m afraid not. My cyber footprint is nonexistent but thank you anyway.”
I walked John over to the travel bureau, only to discover it had been moved to Union Station about a mile away. “That’s fine” John said. “Just point me in the right direction and I’ll be fine. My suitcase just follows along quietly on its wheels.” I walked him to Yonge Street and pointed him south. It was time for me to head for home and for John to find his map and accommodations for the night. I hope I’ve got half that much spirit of adventure when I reach 84.
Thank you John for the friendly chat and for taking part in the Human Family project. Enjoy your stay in Toronto and safe travels back to Coventry.
This is my 78th submission to The Human Family on Flickr.
You can view more street portraits and stories by visiting The Human Family.
John
I was visiting with Jeanette, a classmate of mine, on campus when he approached, trailing his rollerboard suitcase, and asked for directions to a city information bureau. He had a British accent and friendly manner. He had just gotten off the bus from Buffalo and had walked a couple of blocks to where we met. He is visiting Toronto from Coventry England. Jeanette was just on her way to meet a friend so I told him I would give him directions. He seemed an interesting fellow so we stood on the street chatting for a few minutes. He was surprised (and pleased) that I knew of Coventry because, as he said, many people draw a blank when he mentions it. It is famous for its cathedral, among other things. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coventry) We shook hands. Meet John from Coventry.
John is 84 and is retired from a career in the plastics manufacturing industry. “Do you know of bakelite?” he asked. “Yes, I do.” “Well my career didn’t have anything to do with bakelite” he said with a wry smile, but with other forms of plastic. “Were you a chemical engineer?” I asked, trying to get a handle on his expertise. “Well, you’re glorifying me just a bit” he said. Call it a “production manager.”
John has arrived in Toronto to spend the final week of his holiday getting to know this part of Canada. He started out in New York before going to Buffalo prior to his arrival in Toronto. He had the name and address of a hostel to stay at but wanted to get to the visitor’s bureau for maps and other suggestions for his week in the city. I told him there is an office nearby and said I would walk him over but first I wanted to invite him to join my Human Family photography project. “Sure” he said. “I’d be glad to.” I asked him if he’s ever heard of Humans of New York. “Can’t say that I have” he replied. “Good” I continued, because this isn’t quite the same.” We laughed as I got even with him for his use of bakelite as an example of what he had not worked with. John had that friendly, dry wit which we often associate with the British.
As we moved out of the direct afternoon sunlight to a rather grungy nearby loading dock which offered diffuse light, John said he had been interested in photography in past years. “Have you ever worked with wet plates?” Wow. I feel that my past experience with developing 35mm black and white film sets me apart from most people I know and here’s a guy who has worked with wet plates! Photos taken, we continued to chat and he was a fascinating man. “What has been your biggest surprise so far on this trip?” I asked. “I had no idea that Buffalo had a load of Frank Lloyd Wright homes so that was a fantastic treat. I had architecture student flatmates when I was in school and some of it rubbed off on me. I really appreciate architecture.” (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Lloyd_Wright) I asked if he’d seen Niagara Falls and he said “Oh yes. I couldn’t be that close to the Falls without taking the boat tour and getting myself soaked in the spray!” I asked if he traveled a lot and he said “There were a number of years when I was unable to travel, so now I’m trying to make up for it.” What a guy.
When I asked about the greatest challenge he’s faced in life he said “I can’t really give you an answer to that one so I’ll just take a pass.” “How about a message to share through my project?” “Well” he said, “don’t give people advice because given a bit of encouragement they can usually figure things out for themselves using their own resources.” A most interesting message. “What did you like most about your career in the plastics manufacturing industry?” “I’d say the greatest satisfaction was in getting people to do what they really didn’t want to do” he said. “Oh, so you’re a very persuasive guy?” “No, you don’t get it” he said. “You don’t persuade; you encourage them to come up with the idea themselves and volunteer to do it!” I couldn’t help laughing. What an interesting and clever fellow.
I asked if he had an email address to send his photo to and he said “I’m afraid not. My cyber footprint is nonexistent but thank you anyway.”
I walked John over to the travel bureau, only to discover it had been moved to Union Station about a mile away. “That’s fine” John said. “Just point me in the right direction and I’ll be fine. My suitcase just follows along quietly on its wheels.” I walked him to Yonge Street and pointed him south. It was time for me to head for home and for John to find his map and accommodations for the night. I hope I’ve got half that much spirit of adventure when I reach 84.
Thank you John for the friendly chat and for taking part in the Human Family project. Enjoy your stay in Toronto and safe travels back to Coventry.
This is my 78th submission to The Human Family on Flickr.
You can view more street portraits and stories by visiting The Human Family.