Beechmont Stories (Part Two)

“Get off your goddamn phone!” These were the words of a middle aged lineman raised in a bucket over Beechmont west of Cherry Grove Plaza. He was yelling down to his much younger partner sitting in the truck. Earlier, when I first passed them, the lineman was frustrated as he worked and not much had changed since then, except the temperature got hotter.

I wanted to take a picture of the younger man on his phone as the older worker struggled alone, but I didn’t have the right angle or lens or nerve to pull it off. Street photography is not easy; you have to be a little rude and invasive sometimes, but being more rude and invasive is something I’m working myself up to.

This particular sunny October day was hotter than normal and not many people were out walking around. Eventually, near Hamilton County’s Sheriff’s District Five I came across a man with a hindered gait wearing a crisp clean orange polo shirt with flecks of dark chewing tobacco sprinkled across it. He had the build of a pro football player from the 80s if that makes sense.

Meet Gary

Gary was born and raised in Anderson Township, but moved to live in Indianapolis for some years. Gary was polite and interested in my project, but he was a man of few words. At least to me he was, but who can blame him? Not to mention I had interrupted his long walk to Sizzling Wok where he works as a dishwasher.

Around Easter in 2013, while in Indianapolis, Gary told me he was riding his bike to work at Wendy’s when he was struck by a car. The accident was devastating and left him in the hospital for nine months. Since then he’s been living back home in Anderson Township.

When I asked Gary if there is anything interesting about himself he’d like people to know, in a raspy voice he said, “No, not really.”

Before we went our separate ways, Gary asked me if I drove to the area. I think he was looking for a ride to work, but I did not have my car. The more I’ve thought about it since I met Gary the more I realize how much his “No, not really,” response is actually a story in itself.

Did you miss Beechmont Stories: (Part One)? Check it out here.

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Brian Vuyancih

Brian Vuyancih is a former Cincinnati police officer who hung up his police hat to pursue his interests in photography and writing. He lives in Anderson Township and is the founder and creator of Beechmont Stories.

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