Jan 6th-Douglas

Today started a little slow, I had the day off so I slept in but had a plan for adventure. I awoke feeling a little down so I wanted to make sure I did something to make me happy... meeting new people and shooting my camera.

I decided to go to Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta, I had only been there once before and I thought the sunny day would bring everyone outside. The sun was warming the cement and the people who sunned themselves in her glow on a extraordinarily warm day for January. Walking this huge park was fun, there were so many people. I walked with my ipod in my ears and my Nikon around my neck prepared to capture anything or anyone interesting.

Douglas was sitting in a grassy area with his hoody pulled up and his head down. I approached and sat in front of him on the grass and said "hi". He was a little startled by my presence but after a few sentences exchanged between us he warmed. We sat and talked about the South and why he choose to come here from Queens, New York because of the better weather. Our conversation lead into lunch time and I had to go pay my parking meter... so I invited Doug to go to Subway with me. After packing up all his belonging we walked through the park to have lunch and continue our talk about his losing his parents, serving his country and his chose to live outside.

Douglas and I got some strange looks as we strolled together, had lunch and then came back to the park but I didn't mind.

Douglas from Queens told me about himself, his life and his choosing his path through it. He shook my hand and looked me in the eye with truth behind every painful word. We parted and exchanged thank you's for a great meeting.

The bottom line is... no matter how you arise, someone can change your view in a heartbeat.