I met Ed Kautsch while walking through a small street fair in downtown Dallas, TX. His steampunk-inventor vibe was inescapable. So I introduced myself and asked about his sweet goggles. “I made them myself.” he replied. “One side was made from an old camera lens and the other was crafted from the gear of a sausage grinder.” I couldn’t help be think that I was in the presence of a true artist.
Mark Kaplan’s nose ring and five o’clock shadow, paired with his grin and Santa suit, demanded my attention. He was sitting on a large “throne” in the middle of a downtown street fair. I introduced myself and after some small talk, discovered that Mark was named the “2015 Best Party Photographer” by the Dallas Observer. So, after nervously asking for a portrait, I said, “So, what’s your story...why the throne and the Santa getup?” He smiled then replied in a frank tone, “I’m just down here being the Deep Ellum Santa.”
I first saw Angel Ocasio in one of my wife's Exponential workshops. There was something about his eyes paired with his labored walk revealed his exhaustion. "What's your story?" I asked. "Well, my wife and I run a homeless ministry in Harrisburg, PA. She serves the homeless full-time, and I run a painting business to support our family and the ministry," he said. "Wow, that must be exhausting," I replied. Angel looked down, paused then responded, "Yes, it is."
