Reggie. This guy was a street vendor in New York City. Soho. A pretty highend area of town. I was snapping pictures of him from a few feet away, and he glanced over and noticed me. He yelled, "Come over here." So i went over, we had a conversation. He asked me if i work for the paparazzi. Jokingly, i told him, "If i worked for the paparazzi, why would i be shooting you?". He told me I'd be surprised at the kinds of people he's met. He told me he could get me places with photography. He said he knew a lot of people in the business. "I dont know how that's gonna work. I live in Houston." He replied, "Man...that Sucks."

Anyway, we talked for a good 15 minutes. He told me about the people he's met. Paris Hilton, Mel Gibson, Tom Cruise. Was he full of shit? Who knows. We talked about the World Cup; It was the day before. He asked, "Are you sad America got kicked out?" I replied, "Fuck America. America doesn't know what soccer is." With hearing that, he stuck his hand out for a high five. We became fast friends. We kept talking, mostly about himself. "I might work on da streets, but that don't mean I live on da streets. I been doin' dis for twenty years. I been in L.A., I been everywhere. I wouldn't be doin it this long if there wasn't money involved."

All while talking, i snapped a few shots of him while i had my camera on the table next to him. He looked sharp in all bright white. He was a good guy. In leaving, he told me to take car of my Mother, and to follow my heart.

This picture I dedicate to you, Reggie. Good luck with everything, wherever your life takes you.