George
I was riding to downtown Toronto on an errand and I noticed this man with his snappy hat. He was walking down the sidewalk and I circled around the block to see if I could meet him a block later in a spot more favorable for a portrait. It worked out. When I was more aware of his crooked stance and what appeared to be a movement disorder with his head. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I approached him anyway and when I introduced myself and my project he said “Go ahead. It’s ok.” We shook hands. Meet George.
I suggested we take a few steps off the sidewalk so I could park my bicycle and position him in a covered walkway to an apartment building. George was agreeable as I took a few photos and expressed concern for the bleeding wound on his arm. He told me it was from cirrhosis. I expressed concern since cirrhosis is a serious liver disease. He thought for a moment and said “No, I think it’s psoriasis… and I scratched it. It will be ok.”
When I told him it was his hat that first made me notice him and that it looked good on him he said a woman gave it to him. I teased him a bit by saying “You rascal you – accepting gifts from the women.” Without missing a beat his response was “I might as well; they’ve taken enough from me.” He had a twinkle in his eye. I was somewhat surprised by the witty reply because he looked like a man who has led a rough life.
George was born in Orillia, a city an hour and a half north of Toronto. I told him I’ve been there and he said “It’s where Gordon Lightfoot (the Canadian folksinger) is from.” I said “I know it is.” He said he spent quite a few years in British Columbia where he worked for the highway department. I said if he was building highways, that’s pretty tough work. He agreed. He said he came to Toronto a four years ago for surgery and has remained here. I didn’t get many details. George is 68 but it looks like he’s done a lot of living in those 68 years. He said “I’m a bandit and my woman works for the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police).” I wasn’t sure what to make of that but said they must be quite a combo. He said he’s done some song writing and plays the harmonica.
When I asked George his message to the project he said “Don’t do drugs and booze.” I asked if those had caused him trouble and he said “I quit soon after I started, but it’s a bad idea and I would tell others to avoid it.” We parted with another handshake and I told him he had really helped me on with my project. He said “Glad to help. Good luck with your project.” I told him to get his bleeding arm looked at by a clinic but he seemed to shrug off my concern.
Thank you George for stopping to chat and for participating in The Human Family project on Flickr.
This is my 280th submission to The Human Family Group on Flickr.
You can view more street portraits and stories by visiting The Human Family.
Follow-up:
See Comments (below). An old friend of George recognized him from the photo and later (May, 2017) added a sad note that George had died. I was sorry to hear that.
George
I was riding to downtown Toronto on an errand and I noticed this man with his snappy hat. He was walking down the sidewalk and I circled around the block to see if I could meet him a block later in a spot more favorable for a portrait. It worked out. When I was more aware of his crooked stance and what appeared to be a movement disorder with his head. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I approached him anyway and when I introduced myself and my project he said “Go ahead. It’s ok.” We shook hands. Meet George.
I suggested we take a few steps off the sidewalk so I could park my bicycle and position him in a covered walkway to an apartment building. George was agreeable as I took a few photos and expressed concern for the bleeding wound on his arm. He told me it was from cirrhosis. I expressed concern since cirrhosis is a serious liver disease. He thought for a moment and said “No, I think it’s psoriasis… and I scratched it. It will be ok.”
When I told him it was his hat that first made me notice him and that it looked good on him he said a woman gave it to him. I teased him a bit by saying “You rascal you – accepting gifts from the women.” Without missing a beat his response was “I might as well; they’ve taken enough from me.” He had a twinkle in his eye. I was somewhat surprised by the witty reply because he looked like a man who has led a rough life.
George was born in Orillia, a city an hour and a half north of Toronto. I told him I’ve been there and he said “It’s where Gordon Lightfoot (the Canadian folksinger) is from.” I said “I know it is.” He said he spent quite a few years in British Columbia where he worked for the highway department. I said if he was building highways, that’s pretty tough work. He agreed. He said he came to Toronto a four years ago for surgery and has remained here. I didn’t get many details. George is 68 but it looks like he’s done a lot of living in those 68 years. He said “I’m a bandit and my woman works for the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police).” I wasn’t sure what to make of that but said they must be quite a combo. He said he’s done some song writing and plays the harmonica.
When I asked George his message to the project he said “Don’t do drugs and booze.” I asked if those had caused him trouble and he said “I quit soon after I started, but it’s a bad idea and I would tell others to avoid it.” We parted with another handshake and I told him he had really helped me on with my project. He said “Glad to help. Good luck with your project.” I told him to get his bleeding arm looked at by a clinic but he seemed to shrug off my concern.
Thank you George for stopping to chat and for participating in The Human Family project on Flickr.
This is my 280th submission to The Human Family Group on Flickr.
You can view more street portraits and stories by visiting The Human Family.
Follow-up:
See Comments (below). An old friend of George recognized him from the photo and later (May, 2017) added a sad note that George had died. I was sorry to hear that.