Ready, Willing & Able
It was a bitterly cold day today. Snow sits in dirty clumps of stiff ice with another snow storm coming in
over night . . . .
It was a bitterly cold day today. Snow sits in dirty clumps of stiff ice with another snow storm coming in
over night . . . .
Yep, more snow. Thinking of moving South, way, way, South. Like Brazil, Peru, or Columbia.
Tom, are you sure about that?
Hang in there…even though I heard the ground hog froze sold before he got a chance to turn around and see his shadow… spring is coming.
That poor little groundhog, so much pressure!
I’m seeing more and more older folks doing this – thankfully the younger folks provide a steady supply for them but it still must suck to have to do this for some change to buy a cup a soup :>(
Is it bad to feel re-assured that I keep seeing some of the old faces still out there, surviving, still alive? And yes you are right, so much sucks.
I wasn’t sure at first if he was searching for something in the trash or searching for something to put in the trash.
Poverty in a first world nation is a travesty. It’s hard for me to turn a blind eye to the sight or mere thought of a senior having to trash-dive to survive, and yet I do because I haven’t yet come up with a realistic solution to the poverty crisis. It’s so exasperating.
Yes, the richest nation in the world, and yet, soup kitchen queues getting longer. Notice how his shopping trolley is so achingly empty. His concerned face all puckered. Will he get enough to eat today, be warm and secure?
Good shot Patti. It tells a story very simply. Is his story, the winner takes all, but what about those that come second, third?
NYC is a huge city with a big beating heart and so many people doing their best to help. Here is a link about Food Banks you might find interesting. You ask some very salient questions, about a universal problem, to which I do not have the answers . . . . alas we wish. Thank you Gerard for yours!
Some of us don’t know how lucky we are. Stay safe and warm.
Such is the human condition, how much we need, how much we have and how much we want . . . Thank you so much David.
…dirty clumps of still ice – a wonderful description Patti… and a superbe photo (car lights, and shop windows added a desired contrast with the bin explorer – I hope he has somewhere dry to sleep…..
Yes Paula, sharing your hopes of somewhere dry to sleep . . . it is an interesting part of town but I guess I could say say that about most parts of NYC and the dichotomies they present. It’s New York Fashion Week, another story!
Sensational shot. Cold hard facts to the reality of poverty and inequality in the economy. Hope change comes soon for seniors and others in need.
Tex, I have a fundamental belief in the misery of both the rich and the poor but of course one holds the power over the other. But then that’s not fair to Warren Buffett and others who are doing their damndest to give it away.
Sad to see scenes like this. There but for the grace of God go I.
Keep warm Patti.
Yet the scene is repeated, over and over again and what if one day, as you say, that were to be us? My thanks to you Lignum as ever for your company.
Great capture Patti. Speaks more than a thousand words. We – in the developing world – somehow expect things to be different in the West.
Such are the degrees of proportional representation and expectation in both worlds Madhu!
The clumps of ice look like chunks of concrete. Looks like the storm has hit your area now. I hope this poor man is sheltered somewhere. Sad, sad situation here in this rich country of ours.
Angeline, they certainly feel like clumps of concrete but temp slowly warming now so looking fwd to the big thaw and yes, hopes are high that those on the street are being sheltered.
It is so sad, and I am so amazed there are so much poverty in the US. Needs another system…
and until then we plod along, doing our best . . .
great photo Patti – I haven’t seen snow look so much like ‘chunks of concrete’ cold, very uninviting, and very tough for the many with so little. The divide just seems to get greater and greater… and yes the systems of governments need to start looking at new models.
Those frozen chunks are all over town, along with the growing piles of ice covered garbage waiting to be collected. Thank you so much Veronica!
So tender..slightly breaks my heart..
When a couple of days ago I saw this photo for the first time I did non know how to react. It’s a good, terrific good picture but I was not able to click or say I like. Now after thinking about I think it s a picture which puts on my, our table many questions. And we have not enough answer. But it’s already a starting point to think about and try something. Interesting comment from Paula about the contrast given by the light from cars and shops.
robert
PS: we’ll be in NYC beginning of april, I hope it will be less cold 🙂
Robert, I hesitated for a long time about posting it, some might suggest I should not have taken it at all . . . but we all walk the same streets together, some of us more invisible than others. As you say, so many questions, not enough answers. And so grateful to Paula for her comment regarding the light. It does shine!
I am sure it will be warmer for your visit in April and wish you a safe journey and happy times here in the city!!
Thank you Cath . . . .
Such a crazy, crazy winter…everywhere! Cannot even begin to think how the homeless are surviving. Stay safe and warm Patti. We are blessed. Margie
We are indeed blessed, thank you so much Margie and warm greetings to you!
I’m going to play on my guitar for my home-recording today “Streets of London”, Ralph McTell; thanks for inspiring, Patti Kuche! And for sure you know, Patricia Foggerty, New York isn’t better than London…
inspired by you:
https://soundcloud.com/fingerstyle_guitar/social-gap-anthem
I’ll make a blog post from this with your stretched limousine photo …
for Patti, because she notices the social gap …
http://flickrcomments.wordpress.com/2014/02/14/the-social-gap-anthem/
Thank you Frizz for your very generous comments and ping back. To tell you the truth I’m not sure that being homeless is better or worse wherever the streets . . . . Ralph McTell certainly sang a haunting tune which is sadly passing through the generations.
Pingback: The Social Gap Anthem | Flickr Comments
Again a great example for documenting city life.
You do that very well with pictures that also have stories in them.
My grateful thanks to you Rabirius!
A strong image, Patti. I especially like the way you caught the yellow lights throughout the background.
Thank you John. I took it in such a rush, thought about processing it in b&w but decided to go with the color version of the space we all occupy and pass through as we pass each other.
I might be wrong, but in color it seems to convey a bit more emotional strength.
A glimmer of hope. When I lived in the city I would see people putting half loaves of bread and other foods gently in the waste cans so the homeless could pick them up.
A big, big thank you Annie for this huge glimmer of hope which highlights, for me, the endless possibilities of story telling through images.
Wonderful – love the golden lights threaded through the background. It’s difficult to believe this is the best we can do for people in the 21st C.
NYC is full of people doing their best to help, another part of the project I am working on. Thank you so much Richard, always value your input!
I saw that groundhog and he was cold but not frozen. Great pic Patti. Not moving anywhere but practicing patience snd endurance- Spring will come.
Ruth, it occurred to me not so long ago that it snowed last St Patrick’s Day but, as you say, patience and endurance!
Amazing Blog,very classy and stylish,I like,Regards
hard life!
The light surrounding the man is perfect in so many ways.