I am sorely behind in my blogging for this project...luckily i text myself notes about most of the trips.. here are some of them from late last year and early January!
November 17, 2011
I got a facebook email from Rodney Curtis we used to work in the same place..he escaped! He was asking for my addy
so he can send me a twenty spot for the project. Super nice
of him..i send him my addy and tell him what I will buy..hand
warmers of course…he writes back; “Excellent. Thanks for
doing something good and positive that others, like me, can
glom onto and pretend WE'RE the ones helping out. The cash is
already in the mail.” He has been sick and this year has helped
him realize some things in life..and I told him he is an angel...we
can NOT do what we do without the help of people like you!!
Then we volleyed with the compliments; What a nice message
there, Danielle. But the Goddesses honest truth is that it's folks
like you who are the angels. Us? We're just doing the easy bits.
Thank YOU for being so generous… and to him I said.. “we are
all interconnected...so we are all doing the good work..im just
the brave..or stupid one ...hehehe!! Thanks Rodney..sending
you love!” he received the love well..
December 25, 2011
Amen. I had 3 backpacks loaded next 2 me in my car as I
exited near my house & I ran into three people on the exit
ramp. So thankful 2 have enuf. yea! I feel so bad when i run
out. Meet who Char asked me to pray for her and her sister in-
law Dede..and their friend Raphel new to the area and on the
streets.
December 26, 2011
Meet Ralph...at the exit ramp of Moross and the Edsel ford
freeway (I-94)
December 27, 2011
Many thanks to Babs and Target for the $50 gift card donated
to BWB. Used the donation for hand warmers.!!
December 29, 2011
Backpacking with 19 we met up with Eric and Fred Wilson
who is a left leg amputee in wheelchair. We met him by Sweet
Water Bar on the edge of Greek Town. He was really peaceful
and very friendly. We also found 4 guys on the sidewalk vents
by St. Andys.
January 4, 2012
Squirt from BWB home base got up a new blog on the main
website about our efforts in Detroit.
Much gratitude; http://blog.burnerswithoutborders.org/
January 9, 2012
I had this Detroit photographer email me about wanting to
hit the streets with me to shoot what we are doing. I have been
leery of this in the past for feeling uncomfortable about having
people feel exploited. But I asked him what his intention was
for the project and he working on three projects where he
feels one person can make a difference. And made sure he
understood that this project is soo not about one person. That
this can not be done without the help of many people. He
totally understood.
So I took Khaliqu on the streets with me to give him an idea of
what we do, he did not take his camera with him which I really
respected about him.
We cruised around downtown and we meet Gregg who spelled
his name by writing it out with large gestures. I do not think
he could talk cuz he was wrapped up head 2 toe. He was on the
corner of Jefferson at Griswold. It was starting to rain and I had
ponchos so I gave him one. He didn’t want a backpack but he
did take some food. He was a very kind and gentle
January 9, 2012
Later we run into Brian on the edge of Greek Town by the
highway ramp. I recognize him and he me. We greet as its been
awhile and I ask him how he is. He says he has it bad..his health
is really not doing well. He tells me he is staying at Operation
Get Down at Harper & Gratiot, which is on the east side. And he
is working to get his id..knows he should Go talk 2 Ms Evans at
NSO to help him. He had a backpack and a bag but I still gave
him a sack.
January 9, 2012
Ran into another man, Mike at the 75 service drive at Monroe.
He was eating & accepted a bag. He was close to where we ran
into Brain -perpendicular actually across the highway.
After in front of St. Aloysius at Grand River and Washington. I
saw a man bedding down with cardboard who didn’t want to
talk. He only said ‘food’ so I emptied a backpack and gave him
all the food.
January 10, 2012
Meet Lester Karen near the Lodge by the MGM..gave him a
backpack and he asked if I had any money..uh no sorry. Always
a weird thing for me to say…not only because it is 99% of
the true but because how do I explain to people and sound
convincing? I guess I feel like people may think I am not telling
the truth. Should I care.? Should it matter? idk??
January 11, 2012
I don’t recall but I think I was Hooker or maybe with Jess and
Nick. ..or just Hooker and Nick. Either way.. we are at the I75
entrance ramp and 6 mile. And I see a man collecting bottles
on median. I get out to talk to him and offer him a back and
he is excited and he grabbed me and hugged me and thanked
me…and I have to admit...i kinda freaked- only internally but
then I instantly then chilled out as I was ashamed of myself.
And I gathered myself and asked him his name.. and he says
to me.. “Who shot him? on Dallas” and it took me a second to
catch the 1980s pop culture reference and then I sai-. Jr! He
laughed as we said our good byes!
January 11
We next run into Gypsy at 75 and 8 and her owner in a
military helmet. Who was aggressive but not scary. He has lots
of energy. He is friends with Mike who hooker helped a little
bit before.
On the other side of the highway at 8 mile.. 75 and 8 on the
south side.. Hooker helped a woman named Carrie. She was
pretty you and white and her skin was messed up and her
teeth were really bad. She was really nice and grateful. To be
honest we suspected meth...based on her looks.
Busy area- Hooker also jumped out and helped a very nice guy
at curved over pass that goes over75 on the way toward 8 mile.
His name was Mark. Younger white guy.
And the last part of this area.. We talked a really tall and
super nice black man with perfect teeth and a really big
smile. He was very friendly and thankful. His name was
Jay.
January 13, 2012
BWB was mentioned in the Hamtramck Review.
“Time to take a stroll back through the year”
http://www.hamtramckreview.com/2010/12/time-to-take-a-stroll-
back-through-the-year/
