Pics along the way.
An afternoon of free time led one photographer on a journey that will soon not be forgotten. Many times Jamie and his boys venture to their lucky fishing spot, the Gandy bridge. Due to the deterioration of the structure and lack of funding the bridge and its fishing pier were closed to public use. Memories of family ventures fade into current realities with the introduction of Todd.
At first the project was simple; take a few shots of what the Gandy bridge has become since its closure. First a few flower and beach compositions: then the grand gates that pronounce “no trespassing”. The once welcoming bridge was engulfed with chain link fencing. The old donations accepted signs still hang awaiting donations for a restoration that will never come.
Fishermen, tourists, and officers come and go. However the eye of the local homeless was nearby. One might say they were trolls. These down and outers stoked an outlawed fire under an outlawed bridge. Three men called this space home. It was harsh but tidy.
Randy, the missing guy, and Todd. Randy was shy, don’t care much for having his picture taken. “ What part of no don’t you understand?”, Randy shouts. Todd was a welcoming soul, at first. He explained that they cared for up to 15 cats. “ We feed’em cause they have to eat too. The Lord’s watching” He gave a tour of how they kept up the place, the rules of the fire and how to stay out of trouble. Did you know that three men working as a team on the street corner make about $150 a day. Only problem is “someone keeps falling off the wagon and that’s why we can’t get enough for rent.”
Todd is much like what people expect out of the homeless. He holds a sign that says “God Bless”. He admits “I’m a drunk. But I don’t drink and ride the bike I’d F’ myself up even more.” He has no idea how his arm came out of place but he is very proud of his homemade sling. “Made this myself, I’m too stubborn to go to the hospital.”
His anger also gets the best of him. Todd seems nice enough. He offers a sandwich to his guest. Suddenly, he becomes enraged when the kindness was not accepted. “What ya mean, you too good to sit and have a meal?” Quickly, this became a tense moment for a photographer holding expensive gear considering what to do with a drunk under a bridge. Todd then talks about his anger. He says the cops put him away a few times. “They really piss me off. You copper with a badge, live in my world for a day you would be angry too.” In fact, Todd even mentions wanting to go into an employers office with a rifle and “kill all those N----.” Didn’t sound like it mattered if they were his previous employers they just had to employ someone at some time.
Todd recites that he knows where he comes from. “I could go back.” Seemed like he was under the bridge by choice. One has to wonder if where he came from they only spoke in curse words. He tells about his life story in context of how wrong everyone has treated him, either a broke fisherman of 17 years or being laid off of a job of 37,000 years and given no pension. “Well I exaggerated a bit, but it’s a tough economy.”
“Do you believe in God, well I do. Through all the S---t I’d been through he’s the only one who stuck by me.” Todd mentions his faith often only to be followed by another F’ing story. One has to wonder, why did Todd end up being everything everyone expected him to be. At least God is there for those who aren’t there for themselves.
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