Today was about conversation. On and off camera.

I wish Bobby Taylor wanted to be interviewed. He kept bringing on the wisdom and knowledge. He’s been in and out of Harlem for nearly 60+ years. He didn’t want to be on camera–which is fine by me–since we had a great 20 – 30 minute conversation about life, happiness, and the secrets to a long life.

Bobby Taylor. When he came back from the GI in his 20s, he opened his own deli/grocery store in the 160’s. He’s served in Korea, Vietnam, he’d seen the Berlin Wall, owned his own business, and then spent a good chunk of time as an airline steward. I also couldn’t help but notice his nearly perfect wingtip shoes. Dapper, indeed!

But my point is… not about his life, or his shoes, but about the conversations. Today was all about the conversations. And connections. About the essence of community. The one thing I keep hearing in these interviews is “we can all live together”, but I wonder how much of the sense of community gets lost as the racial make-up of Harlem shifts away from the African American community.

Okay, more pondering in the morning. Back to editing I go!

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