“You are lucky today, he normally doesn’t smile in pictures.”

“I once walked from Amsterdam to Leiden for a school assignment. We were very optimistic and we started with a group of 10. Every few kilometers a few people gave up. It was me, one my friends and his dog who made it to Leiden.”
“What have you learned from this experience?”
“That I love to walk. I don’t like run because it’s bad for my knees. When you bike everything around you passes by so fast. When you walk, you actually have time to let everything you see sink in very slowly.”

I photographed Joseph before. Yesterday I ran in to him at the market. 15 years ago he was involved in a terrible accident working as a construction worker. He is not able to work because of his conditions. But Joseph is an optimist. he has been playing music in the market ever since he got back on his feet. Every time I walk by him I’m amazed by his lively energy. No matter the weather circumstances he is there, at the same spot with bright smile on his face. This little conversation we had yesterday made my day.
Me: “Hey, How are you?”
Joseph: “I’m good dear, How are you?”
Me: “I’m good, you remember me?”
Jospeh: “Ahh yes I do, You took my photo a few months ago. You want to take another one today?”
Me: “Sure, why not, Your name is uhm..”
Jospeh: “Joseph! Like in the Bible.”
Me: “Aahh right, what’s new with you Joseph?”
Jospeh: “Things are going great, I just got a new Christmas hat from my friend. It will keep me warm this winter.”
Me: “I saw your photo in the paper the other day..”
Joseph: “Ohh yeah, I am quite famous these days!
Me: You sure are. Well it was nice to see you again Joseph, I’ll see you arround.”
Joseph: “Yes, and don’t forget to be kind to yourself!”

“How did you two meet?”
“It’s actually a really funny story. One night me and my brother went out clubbing. I got so drunk that I bumped into a lamppost. In spite of my blue eye we weren’t planning on going home. Once we entered the pub I saw him and he approached me. Somehow he and my bother got into a fight. It looked worse than it was but the three of us got kicked out of the club by the bouncer. Once we got outside all of us were a bit confused. We didn’t really know what to do so we all ended up drinking Vodka at my brother’s place.”

Two seconds later they completly convinced me with their tinkerbell bags.

Both of them: “We are best friends!!!”

Girl on the left: “I also have another friend, I know her since I was inside my mums tummy..”

Girl on the right interrupts: “But she is not her best friend, I am!”