My husband and I just returned from a trip to Sedona.  It was a budget trip, more about hiking than shopping. 

But one morning, our hike  ended up leading us to these sweet Navajo women selling jewelry in the shade of a large green umbrella!

This neat line up of tables and umbrellas is part of a project sponsored by Native Americans  "for Community Action in Cooperation with US Forest Service"  We spoke with a few Navajo vendors who sign up and pay in advance for the opportunity to sell their crafts.

Alii did most of the talking while her grandmother sat in the shade beading jewelry.  I had not intended on taking photos or even being nosy with questions, but Alii was bursting with pride about her family.  She was extremely proud of her grandmother who still lives on a reservation and speaks only a few words of English.  Alii lives in Phoenix and picks up Mary to help her sell her crafts a few times a month.   She shared stories of her own family and children who sadly speak no Navajo.

I  hadn't intended on shopping that morning, but ended up using all the cash we carried!

Alii was also concerned for her grandfather who at 98 is still herding sheep, living alone most of the time in a small hut with no running water or electricity.  She said an article was recently published about him.  
A day later when I emailed the photos, she promptly sent a thank you, with a link to the article! 
  http://www.azcentral.com/news/native-americans/?content=sheepherder

But when he pointed to his canoe and told us how he paddled 5 miles from his village everyday, he suddenly became a person.  He reminded us that he wasn't selling anything...you can't sell a song.  The can was just for donations.  We didn't make a request.  But we had enjoyed the way his voice had echoed in the canyon while we hiked.  We ended up accidently dropping a dollar in the can as we walked away.
 

My family moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1973. I had lived in a number of towns and cities in my 16 years, but Ann Arbor had a flavor all its own.  I loved dodging the bikes, dogs and students on the U of M "Diag".  I loved exploring the quirky shops and stopping at the old soda fountain, Drakes.  And if I was lucky, I might catch a glimpse of Shaky Jake, standing on a corner with his guitar!

Even though I kept my distance, most of Ann Arbor reached out to Jake.  He was welcomed into restaurants for free food.   He often had a cluster of "fans" chatting with him, and enough money in his bucket to get by.  What I didn't realize until years later, is that Jake had moved to Ann Arbor the same year I did.  I was nervously excited about adjusting to a new town and high school, that year.  Jake looked like he'd been there forever! 

In the fall of 2005, I returned to Ann Arbor to move my freshman daughter into the dorm at University of Michigan.   While she was busy with  orientation, I spent the morning strolling down State Street and Liberty Street... straining my memory to recall what had changed, what was missing.  And then I saw him.  Shaky Jake, was seated at a cafe table having breakfast with a middle aged woman.  He wore his napkin safety pinned around his neck.  Without thinking, I stopped and introduced myself and told him I rememberd him from when I lived in Ann Arbor 30 years ago.  He looked no different, really.  He stood and shook my hand and his friend took our picture. 

January 2009, I stood on a bridge taking pictures of Beijing's Bird Nest Stadium when a young boy approached me.  He held a camera and pointed to a sweet older man standing nearby.  I thought he wanted me to take a picture of the two of them. 

Then the boy spoke... in decent English. He said his grandfather wanted to know if I  would pose in a photo with him.  The grandfather spoke no English,but he smiled shyly.

Whether I'm traveling or just at the grocery store, I love people-watching.   Maybe it's nosy, but I like watching how people interact with each other.  How they work, play, walk, move... I like hearing conversations and wondering about people's lives. 

But it never occurs to me that someone would ever be looking at me. 

Luckily someone in my family snapped a photo as well, so I could see the picture later.  I had to chuckle when I realized our ages weren't probably that far apart.  And then I laughed bigger to notice how wide eyed the sweet man looked, compared to my squinting smile! 

So Thank You, Grandpa!
I still have no idea why you wanted this photo, but I will always remember you, because you caught me by surprise when I was busy watching others.  It's kind of fun to think, maybe I am the stranger in someone elses photo for a change!