Portraits of Paulette
Paulette needed a dollar, or two or maybe three, after getting lost and stranded in the wilderness of Beverly Hills where "there 'aint no-one there to help you get nowhere." She laughed. Out loud. The laughs didn't stop. Somehow she made it out of there to here in downtown LA where she made the corner of the street and busy Central Ave her patch in the shade for however how long. Paulette gave me all sorts of advice for getting the bus either to or from Santa Monica, again with lots of jokes cracking along the way, but the warning was clear - "stay away from Beverly Hills!"
impressive!
Thank you mihrank!
She looks very friendly and has good soul. I wonder what she was writing down. It is making a lasting impression on the litle boy.
Paulette was busy writing down her random thoughts on the bus timetable and yes, she certainly had the little boy transfixed. Thank you Gerard!
It’s amazing how people survive out there
You have a gift for getting them to open up about themselves and for finding the sweetest people with the sweetest dispositions.
Such is the strength of the survival instinct! Thank you Annie for your sweet words. I do get no’s from time to time but so far nothing horribly hostile thank God.
One of the many Paulettes of California. I don’t know how they survive anywhere.
I hear all sorts of rumours about other states shifting their homeless people to California in general, LA in particular, what with the weather being more comfortable for living the outdoor life . . . My straw pole, such as it is, has a high number of LA born and bred living on the streets, others who came from out of state years ago.
Great story! And beautiful images. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much Shawn, it’s tough isn’t it . . .
You have a heart the size of the state of California, Patti.
Amazing photos of an amazing encounter. Who but you?
Thank you Judith, way too kind! I’m just passing through but I have met so many people working quietly and regularly under the radar doing all sorts of wonderful work. More details to come!
Kudos for a most impressive photograph; your pictures speak volumes.
Thank you so much Tex! Paulette was so generous.
good to have a crown at least!
Queen of her domain!
I’d love to read what she’s writing down.
Interesting to be sure!
Beautiful portraits, Patti. Paulette looks like an amazing woman. You captured so much in three frames.
If only you could hear her big voice coming from such a tiny frame . . . thank you so much Richard.
A very strong portrait-series of a woman with character. Even if life has fared hard with her she seems to be in good spirit. I love the smiling and joyous feeling of the first photo.
Thank you so much Otto, lovely to hear from you. I meet so many people in good form one day, down the next, which happens to us all . . .
The Queen of L.A.. I hope you heeded her advice. Great shots, Patti.
Beverly Hills is as good as another country! Thank you Lignum!
Wonderful.
Thank you Rabirius!
GREAT portraits, particularly the last with the apprehension in the little guys’s face.
Will he ever forget? Thank you Elena!
Perhaps she is not aware that she has become the queen of her own world. One world full of fond memories of the past, which helps her to survive in this hostile reality.
Sometimes it’s the fond memories that often the hardest . . . . and as you so well say, I do hope hers go a long way in helping.
Makes you wonder what life has in store for us. And, especially, why. Thanks for sharing this moment of contact between souls.
Thank you Alessandro. We can make all the plans in the world . . . .
Great street portrait of a woman who seems like she does not let too many things bother her. I love the fact that she was in such good spirits Patti 🙂
Paulette was indeed in good spirits, thank you Joe!
Iron strong portraits Patti, especially the first and second shots. Now I’m curious as to how she got there, when, why and what it has taken for her to survive. What sets her apart from me? What puts us on the same wavelength?
You are not on your own with so many questions Allan. Everyone has their own story, we all do, and it is only over time that the layers peel away to reveal more layers of hurt, pain, loss. And then there are people like Rickey the Pirate who was simply at home on the street, with a supportive family and so many friends who loved him to the end.
As for what puts us on the same wavelength, I often wonder who it is we see there sitting on the streets, who is it we are looking for?
Yes, I too am curious about the things themofman questioned above…just looking at her beautiful face, I can tell there are many stories there. What a character and what spirit this woman has, phenomenal work, Patti!
Certainly so many stories . . . thank you so much Susan!
Such an interesting face. You captured it head on. I’m sure she has many tales to tell.
Thank you so much dear Margie.
I like your queen of the street, Patti. Wonderful portrait, shows so much character.
It was such a pleasure meeting Paulette and thank you Paula for your kind words!
It is always my pleasure, Patti.
🙂
Oh my god I think I´m in love with Paulette! What an inspiration – feels like you´ve captured her soul in these images. Simply wonderful!
Will make sure I pass this on next time I am lucky enough to see Paulette, thank you so much JRPH!
hi Patti, your Detroit urban decay vs. stretched limousine inspired me to draw into my sketchbook:
Love what you have done to this, thank you Frizz!
touching and loved the look she is giving 🙂
Big thank you Joshi!
Lovely portrait of an interesting woman, Patti!
Thank you so much Dina!
what a touching post, Patti. i like how you have preserved her dignity and it seems that your camera really liked her too. sad, bittersweet and at the same time so much hope. thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much Kris for your kind and thoughtful words. We have to hope . . .
She certainly did not mind being the focus of these shots. Thanks for sharing these!
No, she didn’t mind at all but I often wonder about “next time” when the mood be a little different . . . Thank you so much Mark for your comment!
Well done for being in such heavy shade. Glad she’s still laughing. I think the last one with the young boy is an excellent shot.
Thank you so much Beth! Would love to know the thoughts running through the little boy’s head.
Brilliant set of portraits of the brave lady Patti! In awe of her attitude.
Thank you so much Madhu!
Haha, great portraits and a colourful character.
It’s a colourful part of the world, thank you Cardinal!
A face full of character and I am sure she has many a story to tell. Patti I really love the photo of the little boy who is transfixed by Paulette and the mother is looking away as though she does not know what to do. Something we have all done in situations like this. But my reactions changed have spent time in India and looking hard at the street kids in London. People have hardships in life and if we can, we should understand and offer help in a practical way. Whether it be offering street kids bread, fruit or a hearty meal to spending time talking and listening to those on the street.
We all have our hardships and I often think we are so confronted by life in the raw as lived by the homeless that we shirk the reality in the rush to get through our busy days. That somehow if we were to stop, talk and listen we might be attacked by some crazy wild cat ready to pounce. The adults have so many stories to tell but it is heartbreaking to know there are kids out there in the process of having their own stories created for them. How to break that cycle? Lovely to hear your thoughts, thank you so much James.
We humans are so individual. I can’t imagine what Paulette has been through in her life and I certainly struggle to understand what took her down that road to start with. Who knows, I could so easily have gone that way my self except it was ingrained in me by my parents that getting a job was the right thing to do as a proper citizen and also if I wanted to ‘get on’! As James said in his response, London has its street kids now. How did that come about… 😦 I thought we sorted this in the last century but recent governments seem to be dragging us back to that again – must be the Murdoch influence 😦 But it’s not easy for many working families over here – the gap between Bankers, MP’s and those who actually work for a living grows ever wider driven by… surprise, surprise, Bankers and MP’s. I guess we’re just Plebs 😦
Paulette.. x A portrait full of heart, as always Patti, with a thousand stories to tell.
That second photo is so dolefully beautiful and potently expressive…so much to be seen in that portrait. Wonderful post. Superb photos! Smiling cheers,
Autumn Jade
This is powerful. I love that such candid images can shed light on the lesser known parts of our world.