People
My project is about community after all and my favorite way to engage with others is to stop and say hello, ask about their story and share some of mine. It’s an amazing world out there, we just have to be willing to stop and spend some time with others that we would normally pass right by.
Meet A.M.
When you see a guy with a pick axe on the side of the road and you have to stop as you run by, right? I met A.M. and we had a good chat about his life and job and my streets project and the neighborhood of Houston we were in, Northside/Northline. As the conversation went on and I asked A.M. if I could take his photo, he asked if I was sure because he was “just a sewer worker.” I assured him, he was probably the most interesting person with the best demeanor, and I quote, “absolute badass” I’d met on all the streets so far.
Here’s a little reminder that what you do for work doesn’t determine your value and everyone has a story to tell.
I encourage you to let someone tell you their story who maybe wouldn’t expect you to care.
Meet Katherine
The pavement was hot and the sun was shining down, so Katherine and I sought refuge under a large oak tree in her front yard. I had just finished a ten mile run on the streets of her neighborhood in the Fort Bend/Houston area. She was waiting to collect her trash can and we struck up a conversation that I truly enjoyed. Question by question, we got to know each other a little better by happenstance. This is what it’s all about for me. Katherine was such a kind and encouraging person. She had a way of complimenting and making me feel good with her words that I haven’t experienced in a while. You could just tell she really cares about others. Thanks for making my day! I hope sharing some of my story and journey did the same for you.
Meet John
I have a rule that if I pass someone twice on a run that I have to stop and say hello, hear a bit of their story and tell them some of mine. The first wave and hello always sets me up for success and this time was no different. John and I crossed paths a couple of times on the streets of the Acres Homes community in Northwest Houston. We stood and talked on the street corner for a bit and John taught me a bit about the community he calls home. He has hated seeing it change so much in recent years, slowly at first and now quite quickly. Many of the larger plots of land he loved to walk by and admire the horses have now been turned into new construction town home neighborhoods. He moved out here because it was peaceful and quite about 12 years ago. The people were good and the land prices low. Acres Homes was a perfect place for John and he is still holding on to and making his way around what’s left of the horses and more country side of Houston.
Meet Eddy & Friends
“Soccer is a language, probably the most universal language on the planet. It is spoken more widely than English, Arabic, or Chinese and practiced more widely than any religion.”
—Laurent Dubois, The Language of the Game: How to Understand Soccer
It’s hard to put into words how much I enjoyed this rainy run in Alief. Set out to run 6 miles of new streets and ended with only 2.5 miles, but so much more. I saw these guys playing soccer on an abandoned tennis court in the rain and they only had 7 players. I was right there and could even up the teams, so I stopped my run and said “uno más”? They welcomed me to the court and I spent the next 30 minutes just enjoying life with some fellow Houstonians. We didn’t speak the same language verbally, but we all spoke fútbol. The ooohs and ahhhs, laughs and smiles, passes, dribbles, headers and shots on goal were our language and damn it was just fun and human and what this project is all about.
Meet Hector
I happened upon Hector in the second Ward neighborhood of Houston when I walked into his coffee shop, OSO Coffee. Hector has become a part of routine life for people in the community where his coffee shop now sits along Navigation Blvd. As I sat and worked at my computer, there were numerous people and dogs that stopped by to visit and have a coffee and maybe a puppachino as they were out enjoying the great weather outside. The resident cat, Buddy was also a major hit with everyone who stopped in except some of the dogs which Buddy seemed to scare. I work at coffee shops all across a Houston, but there was something different about this place. Hector’s smile and camaraderie with the community members was infectious, so over lunch I put my computer aside and asked him to tell me a little bit about himself. Here’s the thing though, he mainly talked about his friends and family which says something about him in its own right. He spoke of their belief in him and how much it meant to him that they supported his vision to help turn this little bungalow into what it is today. And he didn’t even have to ask for help. People were just asking what they could do, from a business owner, who sent a painter who pressure washed and sanded and painted the whole outside of the house, to a friend who sent a master roofer to put the finishing touches on the hard work that they had done. Hector spoke of OSO Coffee being a labor of love and hard work alongside friends and family. He said he has a book of nearly 30 names designs for what he could potentially call his new business, but ultimately landed on OSO Coffee. OSO is his mom‘s name, well nickname, because she was the big sister and a mama bear. As he was working to bring the building to where it is today, his mom didn’t know for nearly two years and he wanted to unveil it to her in a special way. When the day finally arrived the show was full of family. Now Hector plans to continue to not only be a staple in his community selling delicious coffee and supporting other businesses and organizations, but support his mom “Oso” too.
Meet Herbert
At the end of a run in the Greater Fifth Ward neighborhood of Houston, I sat down on the curb under a large oak tree and met Herbert. I have no reservations calling him a pillar of this community. We sat and talked for a while as he waited for families to begin to arrive for the end of the school day. He is a crossing guard and has served this same school for the last nine years. Over the years he’s seen families grow, students move on and even graduate from high school and begin their college and career journey. He’s seen young children who he once helped cross the street, now coming to pick up their younger family members. He’s seen the neighborhood change and grow. As we were perched there on the brick retaining wall, a postal worker drove by and called out his name and waved. Herbert laughed and said, “Everyday, about this time” with a smile on his face. As the school bell drew near, more parents started to pass by on their way to the campus and Herbert would meander into the street, firmly hold up his battered stop sign and blow into his whistle. At the piercing sound, heads would turn with little grins in his direction. It was obvious how much Herbert meant to the people walking by, a part of their lives dating back nearly a decade. And he has no plans on going anywhere soon.
Meet Ramiro
We crossed paths in the Hidden Valley neighborhood on the north side of town. A native of Mexico and a former long distance runner with 8 marathons to his name. Now Ramiro sticks to riding his bike as his hip can't support his running habits anymore. He was a fan of my project and says he used to do the same thing when he would make trips back home to Mexico. He'd spend his time running the streets, getting to know others and even taking pictures of people he met along the way. You may notice the string over his shoulder with a metal pipe attached. We traded stories of aggressive dogs and what we've learned along the way to keep ourselves safe. He said his metal pipe has proved to be a good defense mechanism and I'll be giving this a try myself. When I return to finish off this neighborhood, Ramiro may just ride his bike along with me.
Meet Richard
As I ran in the Northside Village neighborhood of Houston, I was struck by this beautifully painted and decorated house. I stopped to get a better look and had the pleasure of meeting the owner. Painted along the side are the worlds ALL ARE ONE. We stood outside and talked for a while as I learned from Richard. He's lived in this house for 63 years. A house that his father and grandfather built and that he and his son painted. ALL ARE ONE is a reference to humanity and the role we play in it. We are one human race and all valuable and important regardless of where we come from.
Meet Tom
We met as I ran along Airline Dr. in the Northside/Northline neighborhood of Houston. Tom was really proud of his car and rightfully so! He turned his motorized wheelchair into this little car to bring a little joy to the neighborhood as he goes about his errands around town. It came complete with a fan, side mirrors, heat reflective side and front windows, a drawn on battery gauge and custom made license plate on the back. Tom hopes his car can make it on YouTube on day. I'm going to try to make that happen.
Meet Oscar and his son Angel
I stopped mid run to enjoy a cold beer and talk with the guys as about their neighborhood, Northside Village, and the importance of community, visiting new places and meeting people that aren't like you. Oscar said he'd tell his neighbors about me as well and they can keep an eye out for me and that I may stop by for a water or something. Just two great guys trying so see the best in others.
Meet Eddie
On a midday run in Willowbrook neighborhood of Houston I saw him out picking up trash. I slowed to tell him thank you and he asked what I was up to out running in the triple digit heat. Three times a week at noon, Eddie said he walks the loop in his neighborhood and picks up trash. He chooses noon because it's when he's noticed the least and can pick up trash the wind has blown into his neighbors yards. Not looking for any credit, not trying to make anyone feel bad about trash near their homes, just trying to make the world a better place.