Category: 03: Street People
By Eduardo
Contrary to popular belief, death had not claimed him when he was found under an overpass with all his blood vessels exploded. Unbeknownst to many, he actually recovered from that unfortunate incident thanks to a hastily-assembled team of gifted surgeons.
Weeks passed.
Through the tubes and gauze and over the insistent beeping of the heart monitors, he could hear the doctors talking about him.
“His cardiovascular system wouldn’t have blown if he hadn’t been dancing like a madman out there, wearing all black. No wonder he almost died – the poor idiot was suffering from extreme dehydration!”
In his near coma-like state, all he could think about was how hot and thirsty he’d been out in Redding’s intense summer heat.
Nine years later, once he’d fully recovered, he decided to turn his life around and start a chain of juice stores bearing his own name. His refreshing products would quench the throat of anyone seeking relief from the heat outside.
Today he is enjoying the fruits of this highly successful entrepreneurship, and no longer needs to dance on the Cypress Street Bridge for money.
We happened to stop at this one in Vacaville a couple of weekends ago.
By Jaimenacho
Beard No Beard is back…and biking. I saw him yesterday, on his bike. Not walking his bike…ON it..Riding it. You go beard, you go.
I’ve seen Green Machine a few times too. He hasn’t looked as strung out as he had in the past. In fact, I’d say he looks lke he’s on a mission. What type of mission I’m not sure. He just has a very motivated walk now…I liken it to Ike Turner on his way home to beat Tina. He looks like nothing is going to stop him. I’d be a tad afraid to photograph him now.
By Paco
I just saw Beard No Beard yesterday. But something was missing.
It wasn’t his Beard… it was his bike! Maybe he finally decided to ditch his broken bike? Bummer… maybe we need to put in a collection to purchase him a new bicycle? He just doesn’t look the same walking around. However… he does have a pretty good power walk going on.
By Paco
Well, I saw Beard No Beard again today. And I am getting a bit worried about him.
Now, we all know that he obviously has some mental problems. But now it appears that he has more problems.
I think he has bike problems. I spotted him just a mile or so from my place, and he was kicking his bike along like a razor scotter. I know Jaime and I have seen this before, so I took a close look as I drove by.
Now the strange thing is, I noticed nothing obviously wrong with his bike. No flat tire, broken chain, etc… (however, it is hard to see if there is something wrong from yards away…)
So either Beard No Beard has other mechanical problems with his bike, or his brain has really gone South.
I think someday, we need to approach him and see how he is doing.
By Paco
1. Saw Beard no Beard today, and as of today he is “no boxes”. The banana boxes were gone, now he just has a bunch of plastic grocery bags hanging from his handlebars.
2. Also saw Scary Ray in Safeway pushing his mom around in a wheelchair. And I don’t mean to be insensitive, but his mom looks like a corpse.
By Paco
Been seeing Beard no Beard quite a bit lately… about the same time and same place. Here are a few observations…
A) Still as bearded as ever.
B) He has headphones on… listening to what? I wish I knew.
C) He has a grey sportscoat now.
D) He still has his banana boxes, and now on top of them, he has 4 pillows.
So maybe now he is “Pillows no Pillows”.
By Paco
Well, I just got back from grocery shopping and I ran into Beard, Yes Beard.
Here were my observations…
He was indeed bearded. In fact, his beard in bordering on reaching “out of control” proportions. It is HUGE.
He had his Dole Banana boxes. What was inside them? I do not know.
And, just to check to see his level of sanity, I kinda nodded my head at him a gave him a friendly smile. And low and behold, through the dense jungle of beard, I got a friendly smile back.
My day has been made.
