Today we have the second installment in a new series, partnering with our friend Garry Bowden of Souls of San Francisco. (Part one is here).
With Souls of San Francisco, Garry stops people in the street and captures a quick photo and brief interview, providing a glimpse into local life. It's partially inspired by his friend Brandon's work, Humans of New York.
Today we present a few portraits that Garry took recently in Hayes Valley.
“How bout this day huh?”
“Yeah, it’s gorgeous.”
“I don’t know if it was just me, but when I came outside today it seemed especially beautiful.”
“San Francisco can take your breath away sometimes.”
“You live in this neighborhood?”
“Yeah, for about 5 years, San Francisco in general since 1974. Fell in love with it. Came here for a family trip and had some fresh crab in Lake Tahoe and it was like ‘Ahhh, I’ve gotta be in this city’. So once I was in that in between stage between college and making a life, I packed up and came here.”
“Where are you from?”
“Denver, Co. When I first moved here I was in Russian Hill…beautiful place. Every place I’ve been in since then has gone downhill, but now I’m in a pretty good place.”
“Is that because of the way San Francisco is changing?”
“Yeah, I’ve seen it go through a lot of changes and I escaped a lot because I managed to hang on to the same apartment for 25 years. Garden apartment … with a garden … all to myself in the Castro. But like everyone else, especially when we get older, I got kicked out of the employment environment and couldn’t fight my way back in. 4 years ago I got evicted from the Sheriff’s Dept. and was out on the streets.”
“Like homeless?”
“Yep, and then at the psych ward at General.”
“Wow, how long were you there?”
“2 weeks. Then they put me in a rehab place where I wasn’t qualified because unfortunately I don’t have any drug or alcohol problems. And then for 2 years I was in the basement of the Zen center here staying for free by cleaning their toilets. Then got to know a gentleman up the street that invited me to a unique environment that was created in the 70’s. When health activists and the Republicans got together under Reagan they closed all the crazy houses. So it’s a different kind of rehab place.”
“What’s it called?”
“The Odyssey House. I was able to squeak in there because people took pity on me, and now I’m living with schizophrenic people.”
“Are you schizophrenic?”
“No. I have depression problems and anxiety because of the experience of being evicted from my apartment but that’s it. A new roommate just moved into my room, we have to share a bedroom, so I’m taking a few hours out here.”
"You guys look awesome!"
Both - "Thanks!"
"Are you sisters?"
Left - "We're twins. I'm Elyse."
Right - "Madeline."
Elyse - "I moved out here first and she followed me. We were separated for 5 years because we went to different colleges. She was in Florida and I was in Connecticut. Then I moved out here and she was like 'When I graduate, I'm coming where ever you are, even if it's in Bumfuck, Louisiana. We're gonna be together, we're gonna experience life as twins."
"What's your favorite thing about your sister?"
Elyse - "She's always really funny, however I'm feeling, I laugh when I'm around her."
Madeline - "I was gonna say your laughter."
"That works well then."
"Can I have some money to buy a hamburger? Carl's Jr. has a meal for $7."
"Oh man, don't eat stuff there, get a burger around here."
"It's expensive around here."
"That's true. Here you go."
"Thanks man."
"So how'd you end up like this?"
"How did I end up homeless ... I lost my job."
"What were you doing?"
"Janitorial. Before that I was going to school, trying to get ready for the real world. Then all of a sudden my mind went."
"How did your mind go?"
"You want the truth?"
"Yeah."
"You're not gonna hate me are you?"
"Of course not."
"Too much weed."
"I smoke a lot of weed, well ... not as much as I used to, but it just didn't agree with your system?"
"It doesn't happen to everybody. Weed is not bad. They got it for medical use. It's legalized in Colorado, but some people, maybe 1 in a million can get affected by it. I got paranoid schizophrenia. I try to smoke now I get totally paranoid. I think people are coming after me. I get scared. I can't talk to nobody. You ever heard of that?"
"I've heard of paranoid schizophrenia, but I've never heard of weed causing that."
"Yep, in some people. Mostly it happen to black people they say. I was cool at first. I was going to Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. I went to the World Class tour. I was listening to reggae a lot, I was smokin', I was smokin' man. But then it caught up to me. Then I couldn't do school no more, couldn't get a job. Now I'm doin' sorry jobs, living in a bum room. My parents still want me to go back to school. I tell em 'I'm old as hell'."
"How old are you?"
"48."
"It's never too late. You've got plenty of time."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah."
"48 ain't too old?"
"It's never too late."
"Wow, if my mind could just heal up, I'll be alright. I could go back to school. Get a trade or something. That would be great. I haven't felt right since 1985."
"I'm Garry. What's your name?"
"Steve. Thanks a lot Garry."
"Stay up Steve."
"What’s the secret to a happy, healthy relationship?"
Him - “Never go to bed angry.”
Her - “That’s a big question. I’d say ‘Be supportive’. That’s what he is.”
For more of Garry's profiles, visit the Souls of San Francisco Facebook page. And stay tuned for future installments here on Hoodline.
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