the people

we met O on a bench in people's park . we were sent out in the park to practice one of our activities: meeting people to share lunch with, to hear their stories.

O moved to berkley in junior high, the year before the park riots broke out. he was part of a cinematography class at his high school and was sent out by his teacher to film something happening in the neighborhood. his neighborhood was the park. he wandered out with his camera and videotaped the police spraying the crowds with tear gas and pepper. it wasn't long before he joined the crowds.

"they would slash our knees" he told us, smacking my knee and grimacing. "when they get you in the knees you have to go down!"

O left berkley eventually. the park didn't become the family center that they all were hoping it would be. he traveled around, worked for an antique dealer, had five children and eventually moved back to berkley. he is now homeless, the sufferer of menial social security service and multiple heart attacks. he spends much of his time in the park teaching bongo drums and the art of simple living and dreaming. the park is home to "crazy people" doing "hard drugs and other crap". hippies roam, make love, and smoke and food not bombs drops in every day to serve a vegetarian dinner. O just helped with a musical celebration of the park's 41st anniversary. O told us that we are our own hope. "i heard once," he said, "that everything a man needs is found within himself".

"tell your friends" he said, "tell them that if they want a future they have to make it!"

future friends is a scary activity. we pair up, step into a park and find someone to share our double lunch with. it feels intimidating and invasive for all of five minutes. and then the truth comes out: people love to talk about themselves. look around, ask a question, and be interested and you will be part of someone's story that lets you into another beautiful life.