I’ve been worried about Mickey, reading about all the struggles street people, homeless people and the mentally disturbed have during the shut down of life by the coronavirus.

Mickey has a good home and is fed and cared for, but he doesn’t know about the virus, or masks, or sheltering-in-place and all of the places he goes to for food, coffee, warmth or shelter are closed.

During normal times, he posed for me often, and I saw him regularly. He calls me “Mr. Katz,” and always asks after “Mrs. Katz.”

I’ve seen him walking Main Street once or twice from a distance, but I wasn’t close enough or I lost track of him. I finally was close to him today and pulled over and got out to talk to him and give him a $20 bill, I told him I was worried about him.

He thanked me, and changed direction, heading for the convenience store and perhaps some cigarettes.

I noticed he was holding a face mask in one hand, but he said he didn’t want to put it on, it was uncomfortable.

Sometimes I see him sitting on a park bench, looking bewildered.

I didn’t feel comfortable wearing a mask to talk to Mickey, so I kept some distance apart and only reached out to him to give him the money. I think it will last him a while.

It’s curious, I tried to imagine what Mickey is thinking or feeling.

He wasn’t frightened, but he did seem bewildered. He eyes look glassy and he didn’t greet me in the usual way. I took him a minute or two to remember who I was.

All of us are deeply engaged with the virus, Mickey goes about his usual routine, not quite aware of it.  How amazing that Mickey is able to navigate life in our town so easily and confidently, it must always be surreal to him.

The Round House Cafe, where he could always stop for a free coffee and get warm is closed, and the convenience stores are only selling take-out food. Mickey seemed lost to me and bewildered. He knows something important is happening, but he can’t process it.

I felt for him, imagining how difficult to must be to find some kind of normalcy and pattern in a world turned upside down.

Mickey is my only paid photographic subject. I pay him between $3 and $5 for each. He buys lunch and cigarettes with the money. He posed today but I paid him more than usual, it might be a while before we see one another again.

I asked him if he wanted to wear a different mask, and he said no, no thank you. I asked him if he was okay, and he said, yes, he was.  He looked confused, I dropped it, we said goodbye. It was a relief to see Mickey, he is a survivor, he’ll be okay.