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Still limited in my activities due to pandemic restrictions, I find interest in the simplest things - some of which can be viewed from the safety of my front porch while reading.
This impressive rig appeared on our street early this morning to support some city sewer work beneath our street. I had to check it out and take a photo since it was something different sitting there in the early morning light. I found out from the fellow driving the truck that this is regular sewer cleaning and maintenance. They foun that someone had poured waste cement into the sewer which hardened and formed a ridge which the crew is having to chisel out in order to prevent an obstruction. Some idiot cost the taxpayers a bunch of money.
When a jetliner went over our house a half hour later, it seemed like a big deal. That only emphasized how much this virus has changed our world. The pilots of that plane must have been at the top of the airline's seniority ladder or they would be furloughed like all the rest of their highly-trained fellow pilots.
Tags: truck sewer
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This started out as one of my “Faces in the crowd” quick posed street portraits. I told them how nice they looked together and asked if I could snap a photo or two. They seemed taken by surprise but in a friendly way and decided “Sure.” He took off his glasses and I asked them to move close which they did. Two exposures later I thanked them and wished them a fun day at BusikerFest. They returned the good wishes.
An hour later we crossed each others’ paths in the throngs on Yonge Street and recognized each other with a wave through the crowd. After another half-hour of enjoying the street festival I left Yonge Street and returned to my bicycle which was locked at nearby Ryerson University. As I was about to ride home, who should I see but the same couple, heading along the side street, returning to the action after what must have been a break from the noise.
We all laughed and it was a “And so we meet again” situation. I told them I was just on my way home and they said they were going to spend the evening at BuskerFest. I said that since we had met three times in one afternoon despite the crowds, perhaps there was a “message” in it. Although I had taken their portrait as a quick “faces in the crowd” photo, I would like to meet them and ask if I could use one of the photos for my street portrait project The Human Family. We shook hands. Meet Jennifer and Keith.
Both were friendly but cautious about my request but they hadn’t stopped me yet so I went ahead and explained how my Flickr project works and how much I would enjoy having their permission to include them in it. I showed them my contact card with sample photos. There was still no go-ahead so I got slightly pushy and added “So, how about it? What do you say?” Keith deferred to Jennifer. I asked if she was the decision-maker in situations like this. He laughed and said “Not really, but she’s the more adventurous one.” Jennifer laughed at that and yielded to the request. I said I really appreciated it and that I would choose the best of the two photos I had taken earlier and that if they wanted copies they should just email me and I would gladly send them along as a thank you.
Jennifer and Keith live in a city an hour outside of Toronto but Jennifer works as a Registered Preactical Nurse at one of Toronto’s major hospitals. She loves her job but said it can sometimes be quite stressful. Keith said he has retired and was a welder. I guessed that it probably doesn’t take him long to figure out if it has been one of those stressful days the minute she walks through the door from work. He gave a shy shrug but Jennifer said “He listens to a lot. He’s really very supportive and I appreciate it.”
When asked if she had anything she would like to share with the project, Jennifer said “Just be kind to others; a little empathy can go a long way.” It’s a nice message – not just for nurses but for all of us. I have the impression these qualities comes naturally to her.
Thank you Jennifer and Keith for agreeing to participate in The Human Family and for sharing a bit about yourselves. I hope you will remember our friendly multiple-meetings as part of the fun of your day at BuskerFest 2015.
You can view more photos and stories from the project at www.flickr.com/groups/thehumanfamily.
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JJ calling up selfies on his phone.
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