Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Regular People








Something I love about life is you never know who you are going to meet or where you might end up.

Today for example, while walking through Chinatown, I found myself on La Grange street having a conversation with Jimmy Shoeshine; well thats what he calls himself anyway. Something about this homeless man that sat with all of his belongings at an arms reach caught my attention; maybe it was his charming grin made up of three whole teeth, I don't know. Nonetheless there I was, having a photo shoot with a guy on the street who was convinced that he looked painfully similar to Bill Cosby. I didn't want to tell him but I couldnt find any resemblence.

It was clear the Jimmy is a fixture on that black wall outside of the entrance to Centerfolds. He and the oversized bouncer are even on a first name basis. The establishment lets him stay there to run his shoe shining operation; after all, he is the best shoe shiner in all of Boston, according to himself. Jimmy did some great modeling for me, insisting all along that his profile is his best angle. So after taking up a few minutes of his time I decided I'd leave him to his business and as I left he told me to come back by when I was not wearing flip flops.

I kept walking and turned down Beach street. After a few blocks I passed a window and took a double take. There were types of meat hanging in that window that I didn't even know existed! Interested and curious I walked down the red cement steps to the basement level butcher shop. I introduced myself to Ming the butcher who was dressed in all white and he was kind enough to explain to me what all the different delacasies were. There was all sorts of stuff behind that glass from chicken feet to intestines. I entered Ming's shop with only the intention of looking but when he offered me a piece of meat on a toothpick I felt I had to try it; he had been so kind. He watched on hopefully as I took a bite of what I believe/hope to be spare rib, and thankfully it was delicious. I said goodbye and thanks to Ming and promised him if I ever decide to cook up some feet for dinner he will be the first butcher on my list.

Today was one of those days where I thought to myself, you know- people are good. For the most part if you talk to them with respect and curiosity and look them in the eye people are more than willing to let you in and open up. I will probably never see Jimmy or Ming again, but I am so glad to have met them both.

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