From the archives of Project 365 “I don’t lie, I don’t cheat, I don’t steal. If there is anybody who needs help, I’ll help them, even if I have to give the last possession I have, I will, if it helps someone else in greater need than myself. That’s the way I am.” As I
From the archives of Project 365 Day Of The Dead, Dia De Los Muertos: A holiday focused on praying for, and remembering, friends and family members who have died. It’s a big deal in Mexican culture and a huge day of celebration. It was on that particular day I decided to explore a busy festivity
From the archives of Project 365 “I was young; part of the reason I have so many tattoos.” I’ve come to know a few great boxers. All with interesting stories and background. Even past Olympic champions and pro-contenders, and at the gym where I taught cycling, there was one that always grabbed my attention. His
From the archives of Project 365 “America is different from Peru. Everything is easier, and there is opportunity for those who work for it, and remember to vote!” I’ve held a little secret regarding the story of Monica and Matthew, that being as I met with them, we were not alone. As in all interviews,
From the archives of Project 365 “Hate doesn’t take you anywhere.” 7:30 pm, November 4, 2011: I was with my family and starting to sweat a little. I thought, “here comes a late-nighter” as I tried to find a new friend to interview. We’d been to Home Depot, Target, and Ralph’s grocery store, followed by a
From the archives of Project 365 “My kids like to talk to me, it’s an open-ended dialogue. I’ve learned to not dismiss their thoughts or try to redirect them into what I want to hear.” For fifty-five days I had openly written about my life, my journeys, and the people I met. Months with much
From the archives of Project 365 Wisdom, that after racing behind him for a quarter of an hour, through our small talk and witnessed in the courage he seemed to have in pursuing his dreams, I saw a story much deeper than any we could have shared in words. My heart was broken. A post-interview
From the archives of Project 365 “If I die tomorrow, my funeral will take three days, so that all of my friends can attend.” It was the day I traveled to the interview I mentioned in the previous story. Can’t say I was comfortably en route, rather I was sitting cramped at some thirty thousand
From the archives of Project 365 “…have fun, but don’t live recklessly, for yourself or others. Focus on doing good, because what if it is your time and you’re not living up to your potential or doing bad things. You don’t want to go out that way. You want to be remembered for what good
From the archives of Project 365 …more than an emerging artisan; she was a community activist. It was a Saturday afternoon. Fifty-one days since my commitment to interview a stranger and publish a story for 365 consecutive days. Lucky that my family had been patient toward a project that was still in its infancy as
From the archives of Project 365 “Be nice to strangers, and do your part to make the world a better place.” From left to right: Shane, Saya, and Kevin Not far down the road from where I live is a yearly tradition. A family fun destination, that, as fast as it is set up, it
From the archives of Project 365 I’d asked for the fourth time, “Who is playing on the stereo?” He said, “If you ask me again, I’m going to punch you!” Sitting in the car engrossed in my entry, I had asked my friend Michaelbrent (he was driving) the same questing four times in ten minutes. Some
Hello, dear readers of Sidewalk Ghosts, random curiosity seekers, and people who stumbled onto this project while looking for the newest celebrity train wreck (nothing here about the Khardashians, sorry) You may notice a bit of a difference in this essay. There’s a reason for that; and the reason is simply this: I’m not Richard. Instead,
“you’ve got to have respect for other people.” “Are you a veteran!” he asked (it is not a mistake I use ! instead of ?). The question came at me as sharp as a bullet. No, I did not serve, I was between the draft and did not volunteer, I replied. He looked away as if disgusted. Left
“Everything is so fast paced now, you must have patience with yourself and those around you.” Picture yourself in the passenger seat with me as we cruised through suburbia and into a corner shopping center. Radio tuned in as we chilled to our favorite tunes. Yet somehow, the music was silent. How could that be,
“I’m not really one to be photographed, plus look at me, I’m not looking too good. Best not to take pictures of me. But my mom is at Home Depot, she’ll do it when she gets back!” I approached the house, Mike, son of the homeowner, was sitting on the porch; and as I passed
“whatever way life takes you, follow your inside, your persona, how you feel about your presence on Earth, and somehow let it be the guide in interfering with your choices.” A was typical night in Radstoneland: I give you the beats. • Taught Spinning • Best Buy for more iPad stuff. I’m telling you, “the thing
“these kids inspire me, when the kids succeed, I succeed.” For years my daughter had, on and off, been participating in gymnastics, and with my wandering the streets looking to interview strangers, it had become the norm for my wife to stand in as her companion. But on one particular evening I tagged along, and
Even though it has been over seven years since I first met her, the positive outlook she glowed, to this day, stops me in my tracks. Yet, under the free spirit she so happily exuded, there was a person enduring the pain of a great loss. It was pumpkin hunting night. A Halloween tradition followed
“I’m in for anything that brings people together.” Driving home after a dinner with friends and family. I came across a group of bikers. Picture a casual outdoor gathering, killer motorcycles parked along the road, and a bunch of leather jacketed bikers sharing stories over after ride coffee. At the time it seemed to mein
“Everybody feels the way you do; what you do with it is up to you. You can either handle it, or you can be a victim.” “It’s impossible to go through life without problems.” A quote that revealed the character of a remarkable young man, Aaron, who at only twenty had experienced enough life to
The Great Recession in the United States was a severe financial crisis combined with a deep recession. While the recession officially lasted from December 2007 to June 2009, it took several years for the economy to recover to pre-crisis levels of employment and output. The Great Recession: Income poisoning years that put so many of us
“happiness is not about money or status, it’s about self-worth.” It was day thirty-eight into the project and all those who knew me were starting to see, even feel, the impact it was having on my families life. Literally, to the point, that as I first authored this story, I was looking across the table
As Anne and I began our interview, her phone rang, her husband with news regarding his recent deployment. In her eyes, I saw a dream on the horizon, a possible mission that would place him permanently in San Diego, giving them the chance to finally start a life under one roof. For those of you
I arrived around 6pm, the warm light of setting sun glowing on the horizon. Pulling off the street as one of the many vehicles filing into what was clearly a car show, I careful scanned where to park. A tad insecure, and not wanting to bring attention to the faded paint of my Honda not
I asked; is this the way it always is here? With smile on their faces, and in perfect harmony, they all resoundingly agreed, “YES!!” It was hair and nail day for the Radstone women and a chance for me to take five from the office. For my haircut, well that’s nothing–my wife, electric shaver, trusty number
“Daddy, I’m not feeling that we should shoot the soccer players, how about trying to meet the people in the office?” The evening was dedicated to spending time with my daughter, and seeing that our family life had become synonymous with interviewing a stranger each day, we both knew we would be extending ourselves that
It had been an incredibly long day. Rose early, directed ad campaign, wrapped the day and returned the last of unused supplies (I’m a roll up my sleeves guys, so I threw in to drop off rented props) Helping me out was my friend and crewmember, Danny. Who without his help, I would have ultimately
©2022 RICHARD RADSTONE / SIDEWALK GHOSTS
No image or content may be copied, downloaded, or transferred without written permission.
©2022 RICHARD RADSTONE / SIDEWALK GHOSTS
No image or content may be copied, downloaded, or transferred without written permission.
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©2022 RICHARD RADSTONE / SIDEWALK GHOSTS
No image or content may be copied, downloaded, or transferred without written permission.
