This is Joe, we have been friends for 7+ years, we share a passion for bicycles and art and are both pretty left wing when it comes to our political slants. He turned 80 this year and we went on the bus to his favourite Italian restaurant who give you a pen if you finish your meal. We went for lunch and I paid for the meal in 5’s. Tip money I had saved from my serving gig.

I wanted to make a fashion portrait, maybe even a series with this guy but it didn’t work like that with this. It turned out instead exactly as it should. It is just Joe, in a chair with some clothes I asked him to put on and a pair of Gucci sunnies that I found one day in a silk satchel on the street.

It’s hard to describe the details of the connection between Joe and I but maybe I can try. Often when I make food if I have too much I share it with him.

On this day, the portrait taking day when I found him in our meeting spot I could tell that he wasn’t feeling well and I asked him why he didn’t call me and let me know that was the case. His response is always the same, you gotta get going and it’s always good to get outside and ride your bicycle.

Turns out he had saved something I had made him in his fridge and it was now pushing a month old. He ate it the day before and that was what probably. made him sick. He didn’t freeze it or throw it away, he kept it and ate it in turn even if it was a bit on the late side and made his evening one of riding a porcelain bus.

Oh Joe, how I love you so.