Dear Anonymous,
With that enthusiasm of my children reserved for when they were younger, he reveals 'It's my birthday!'
Happy Birthday, Tyler. Happy 35th.
He got an extra piece of coffeecake, shhhhhhh.
Last year I wondered how you would make it another year. Seriously. And you did. Hell, yes, you did. Congratulations on building a life for yourself.
We change. And we will continue to change...
Dear Anonymous,
We change. And we will continue to change. This first photo is of our friend Tyler this morning, June 27. The photo on the right is of Tyler last year, June 30 2019. I wonder sometimes if Tyler recognizes why every time I see him now it's a miracle. It. Is.
—with Tyler Scott
He wears the hat offered by you this winter. A fleece sweatshirt too...
Dear Anonymous,
He wears the hat offered by you this winter. A fleece sweatshirt too that had been handed to him about that same time. He has managed to hold onto them. Nothing short of a miracle out here. I notice. He smiles.
And socks are distributed and there are not enough coffee cards but they eye the stack of clean and beautifully folded tshirts. And they settle. And they choose. And there is dignity in the offer (thank you Dear Anonymous) and there is dignity in the receiving.
Just that. That's all. And that is a lot.
And he stays by so I may photograph and I am so taken by his eyes that I fumble with my camera. Is it on? Oh, settings? Is it focusing? All the while those eyes...
Someone donated a big bag of tshirts and part of the joy was unfolding each one...
Dear Anonymous,
Someone donated a big bag of tshirts and part of the joy was unfolding each one with the guys and watching them figure out who would like each one. This guy will only wear plain shirts, 'I ain't no billboard.' So, the plain one goes to him.
This guy loves Batman so the Batman shirt goes to him without question. The skateboard shirt goes to the younger fellow along with the band tshirts.
Mike calls out 'THAT one's for Tyler!' and we put it away for him. Tyler arrives and Mike is excited to hand it to him. And Tyler's response, so worth it.
Thanks Dear Anonymous.
Tyler always offers himself to be photographed. He steps into the experience of being seen in a way few do...
Dear Anonymous,
Tyler always offers himself to be photographed. He steps into the experience of being seen in a way few do. And I always love that he allows us to see him. In good times. In bad. That somehow he seems connected to something far deeper in him than appearances.
This morning he drops his gaze into that lens and looks straight into me as if he can see a distant galaxy, and simultaneously as I squint through that viewfinder, he becomes the galaxy himself. The camera disappears and I am standing holding nothing but ferocious love.
And then there's socks and coffee cards.
Upright. Arrived in time for coffeecake. Great to see you Tyler Scott.
Dear Anonymous,
Upright. Arrived in time for coffeecake. Great to see you Tyler Scott.
Lots of socks. Hungry for socks. Hungry for shoes. Tshirt supply is gone.
The open maw of the street. The maw of lives pushed to edges.
But there is water to distribute. Boxer briefs to hand out. And it will never be enough.
One young man I offer socks to puts up his hand.
'I'm all set. Hold onto them for somebody who got nothing.'
And I do.
Another man hands me a sweatshirt to 'recycle'. I'll wash it and back on the streets it goes.
He had requested a little book. He said it helps him to write things down...
Dear Anonymous,
He had requested a little book. He said it helps him to write things down. Makes total sense to me. He smiles when he receives it. Tells me it will help him budget for the next month and rattles off the cost of rent and expenses against benefits he receives. Organized. Clear. Off he goes, coffee cake in hand.
Thank you Dear Anonymous. Thank you. With recent donations we were able to gear him up with pants, sneakers, new t-shirt and boxers. A bounty.
Tyler. The photo on the left is from last year at this time...
Tyler. June 2019
Tyler. The photo above is from last year at this time. Tyler. The photo below is from this morning when you passed through with a smile headed back to listen to the news. You made it through a fckn' gauntlet. You have a roof over your head now. You can stand up straight. You can smile. You are RICH.
Tyler. Late May 2020
Standing tall. Walking down the street. Upright. It has not always been this way...
Dear Anonymous,
Standing tall. Walking down the street. Upright. It has not always been this way. Sweet smile. Pants ripped out at the knee and shoes split open across the top. But he offers that smile. And it lifts my heart. And he takes a piece of coffeecake from one of the guys that offers. I had none left. Coffee card. Socks. A few words and he's off. And that moment can be my sweet spot on any given day.
All the clothes I have found while out and about, dumped here and there have been washed and now fly out of my car. Insatiable. Never enough. I need. I want. I lost. It was stolen. I need. I need. I need. But there are smiles. There is sweetness. In this moment there is not one of us against the other. In this fraction of a moment. And sometimes in this world that's more than I can imagine. Thank you Dear Anonymous.
Tyler stopped by to say good morning. Upright. Smiling. And sporting a new haircut...
Dear Anonymous,
Tyler stopped by to say good morning. Upright. Smiling. And sporting a new haircut.
Coffee card and socks always a hit. Thank you Dear Anonymous.
Thinking of you Tyler. Hang in there.
I know Tyler has some friends out here. I hadn't seen him for a bit and asked through the street grapevine if anyone had seen him. Word got to him and he responded via Facebook this morning that he is well. Thinking of you Tyler. Hang in there.
His eyes have always spoken a story that may not be word ripe. That transcends the streets.
Dear Anonymous,
And another this morning of Tyler.
His eyes have always spoken a story that may not be word ripe. That transcends the streets.
Our buddy, Tyler. Looking fine. Upright. Polite.
Our buddy, Tyler. Looking fine. Upright. Polite. Still in his own apartment. Paying rent. A relief. Congratulations, Tyler.
And thank you Dear Anonymous for help with coffee cards and socks.
This young man stopped by for a hug and some blueberry cake and a coffee card.
Dear Anonymous,
This young man stopped by for a hug and some blueberry cake and a coffee card. Speaking clearly. Excited about his apartment. Working with a case worker, and he tells me, 'Staying away from the people I ought to stay away from.'
Noticeably clear headed this morning and it was lovely to see him.
Meanwhile,it's damn cold. Mike has been wandering around all night. Stomach upset. Huddles into granite window ledge outside the coffee shop.Takes a backpack filled with hats and toe warmers to share as he goes along.
No lengthy conversations today...grab a coffee card , some socks, and hand warmers (thank you Dear Anonymous) and go find a place inside.
Sweet man. Asks to be photographed, and all we need to do is move him into the light.
Dear Anonymous,
Sweet man. Asks to be photographed, and all we need to do is move him into the light.
Still in his apartment. Still happy about that.
He is waiting with others. Fairly mild out and that's a grace. He is kind and willing to be photographed.
Dear Anonymous,
He is waiting with others. Fairly mild out and that's a grace. He is kind and willing to be photographed. He makes contact with the camera, with the lens, with the light and I am always grateful.
Everybody seems a bit out of sorts. Resentments. Unspoken frustrations. Holiday contact with family not always a great thing.
A coffee card can only go so far. And socks. And these beautiful sweatshirts and fleece hats recently donated. Thank you for all of this. Because often, in the moment it is far enough.
What neighborhood is this? It's the intersection of the differences between us and...this.
Dear Anonymous,
What neighborhood is this? It's the intersection of the differences between us and...this. And this love wins.
Coffee cards, socks and the currency of connection. And all that may be criticized; or analyzed; or disputed; or argued gets to just f*ck off. Excuse my language.
There ya' have it. And the words: Standing at the threshold of love who am I to deny entry. P.S. Boundaries in place. Thank you Dear Anonymous for the support and resources. Deeply appreciated. Every. Day.
Here he is this morning stuffing a backpack with socks and a hat and a coffee card and...
Dear Anonymous,
Here he is this morning stuffing a backpack with socks and a hat and a coffee card and another jacket for the young woman sleeping in the doorway down the street. He takes a blanket and socks for our young friend in the next doorway in a sleeping bag, too cold to get up to get them himself.
In his element. In the elements. If he is feeling discouraged it certainly isn't manifest. A survivor. Tried and true. His wife says about his eviction, about the news of a mother murdering her own daughter that haunts her on todays front page 'It's life. And I don't like it.'
Thank you Dear Anonymous. Gloves, hats, socks, coffee cards were welcome.
And just to remind folks, Mike gives his permission to be photographed and to share stories from life on the street. It is with permission in the hopes it may help his community.
He was upright. And tall. And clean. And he had a smile. And will wonders never cease.
Dear Anonymous,
He was upright. And tall. And clean. And he had a smile. And will wonders never cease. And he's in his place and seems all set and still comes down to say hello and get a coffee card and a pair of socks. And we all remember how it has been for him. And we all hold this fragile little moment like a prayer. I know there are no guarantees. It will require a diligence. But man, to stand next to him. Clean. Smiling. Dignified. A good start to the day.
The long voyage of obtaining housing. He got his own housing. His own room.
Dear Anonymous,
The long voyage of obtaining housing. He got his own housing. His own room. A place to call his own. Off the streets at night at least. Thank you to all that helped him in the process. A relief. A breath holding...pray he can hold onto this. Congratulations Tyler Scott ( and with Tyler's permission)