Omer Kaplan
218th Bayside, Queens | I found Gayle on Facebook when I was looking for people to photograph. I felt like she had an interesting story and I’ve never photographed someone her age. I met Gayle and her partner Chuck next to their place at Dunkin Donuts in Oakland, Queens. Gayle and Chuck live together, but they couldn’t get married because she is on the other end of her disability pension. They have a close relationship and it seems like Chuck would follow Gayle anywhere.
Gayle collects stuff because she is afraid to become homeless again. Throughout her childhood, she was abused by her dad and has developed anxiety. She is currently working on a book and a documentary hoping to support other people who are dealing with similar issues. Something in the experience filled my soul with ripples of memories coming from a dream childhood.
I miss them. There was something comforting in their presence. They are full of life and refreshing. We all deal with the same feelings. It does not matter how old we are, our background, nor gender. We speak different languages, but we know how to listen. As I moved towards the door, they followed me and said goodbye.
I smiled to myself, Wondering when will be the next time I’ll Come by. www.omerkaplan.net
“I collect things, she collects junk. She collects things, I throw them out.” says Chuck. Gayle response, “I collect stuff because I don’t want to be homeless. “If I ever become homeless I’m gonna have enough clothes and hats right? I’m thinking it can happen again right?” Chuck agrees while he is laughing and says, “It makes me nuts and I’ll lock you out of the house.” “It’s good to save food too. People collect them for a war, she says.” Chuck shouts, “We are not in a war! This is not world war.”
When Gayle wants chuck to tell a little about her father, he seems very angry and says: “He was nuts. He had a breakdown. He rambled. He should have been on medication, he wasn’t, so it was a complete lunatic.”
“I met Chuck in my 20’s on AOL chat boom. He was a very nice person, his wife died from cancer, so we were both single. I’m happy that I met him because he helped out a lot. I get the free food, and he cooks, so we are a good team.”
“I want to help other people, so they could say they could have hope, you know, they can have hope and do what they could.”
