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Sunday, April 22, 2012

The "Faces of Strangers: #1" Story


Prelude: Last week I saw an article in the local Sunday News titled "100 Strangers." It told of people who have joined a "group" on Flickr (online photo site) that plan to try to take photographs of 100 strangers as well as publish a small story about them. Wow, right up my alley I thought. So, I began with my first photo and story this past week. Then I realized that there was no way I could spend time searching for 100 strangers and writing stories and taking photos of them. Especially if I want to continue to write a story a day on my blog.  So, today I will publish my first photo and story of however many I end up taking on my blog instead of concentrating on doing it for Flickr. Hope they don't mind!

It was an ordinary day. My oldest son Derek's birthday. Won't tell you how old cause it will make both he and I feel old. He wanted my wife and I to join him and his wife, Barb, and my grandson, Caden, for supper at the Italian restaurant "Carrabba's" which is near our house. We met him at about 6:00 PM and were shown to our seats in the restaurant. First time for all but my wife to eat at this place. After being seated, we were greeted by our waiter who took our drink order. Menu was packed with Italian dishes, as can be expected. Drinks arrived and we placed our order with Carlos. Interesting guy, to say the least; you'll see why soon. I looked at Carol and said, "I brought my camera! This guy looks like #1 on my list" She agreed with me. We finally received our food with much fanfare from Carlos. I had just about finished my lasagna when Carlos brought me a refill of my pink lemonade. "Thanks, and do you mind if I ask you for your name," I said to him.  "Carlos," was the reply. "Do you have a minute to talk to me about yourself," I asked him.  Boy, his face lit up with the biggest smile. I pointed to the empty chair next to me and within 10 seconds he was sitting in the chair as we finished out meal. I started with, "You ddefinitely are Italian, so what brings you to Lancaster County?"  He started his story in 
his fantastic accent with, "I'm 64 and was born in Spain and for the first part of my life I moved back and forth between Spain, Italy and Sicily. My first job was as a bull fighter. I was speared four times!" We are all listening intently to him as he motioned with his hands and arms as he talked as if he was still fighting bulls. "I them moved to Argentina, then Chile, then to Puerto Rico and finally my first trip to the United States when I moved to Miami. I got married, then divorced. Did that three times. I have five children. I moved from Florida to Massachusetts to Raleigh, NC and then to Lancaster. Hang on, I'll be right back!" He fled to the table at the end of our row. Had to get them their check and help clear the table. He returned soon, cleared our table and found his seat again. He was having the best time with his new found friends.  Told us he had a few stories he would tell us.  "When I was a child in school, the nun grabbed a chicken and chopped it's head off, held it up and left the blood fly everywhere." That's about all I got from the story before he started the next one. "Then there was the time when I drove three Mexicans from New York to Mexico because they were afraid to take the plane. We got as far as Arizona when I saw all these red flashing lights up in front of us. It was a road block. They came to the car, shone their flashlight on us and made us all get out of the car. Put handcuffs on us and searched the car. I guess they thought we had drugs or something. Finally left us go and I got them to Mexico. I'll go get your check for you," and off he went again. When he returned he had a dessert sampler for everyone at the table; all his new found friends. I asked him if he would mind if I took his photo. He grabbed the empty chair again and smiled for me, but when he began with another story I took a few more photos of him as he narrated the story with his hands and arms. Well, we finally paid our bill, with a nice tip for Carlos, and as we passed him we all shook hands with him. It told him I'll be back sometime and we can talk some more. He smiled and said, "I'm ready!" It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

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