lifers...

they are hard to come by. you don't see too many cats that stick around. as some of you know, this industry has a high turnover percentage...for several reasons. it's a dangerous job that puts your mind and body to the test. it's also a job that not many take serious...im talking about the six month all-stars that do it for cookie points. every once in a while you come across cats that have been around for 5, 10, 15, 20 years...

past...

click on pic to read article...

he says he wants to stay a bike messenger for another year or two. "but i like it enough to stay 5 or 10 years." he says. "sure sometimes i feel like i liked to trade my schwinn for a chevy. i think this is really a crazy affair i've gotten myself into.but i love what im doing.

present...

pic by jeremy hughes...1168 on the left.

1168...as i know him, is definitely one of our main soldiers. sure we get on each others nerves every once in a while but in the end...i know the man can get the job done. it's bound to happen...his years of service vs my stubbornness equals insanity from time to time but even as a man who is over 50 he still can rock with the best of them. he loves his job as much as he did when he was younger. he's seen many come and go and has seen the industry change more than most of us. how many cats nowadays can say they were around when cannonball was still rocking? if you notice in the article...cannonball started in 1933!! they were bought out by dynamex around '99?

1168...did we hire again?

j.dot...umm, i think they brought in one more cat.

1168...well, that'll mean less work. i guess we'll let winter take care of that.

...the man is also a music expert. i dare anyone to question him on any jazz topic. he's been nice enough to bring me a few cd's from time to time from his collection. on another note, check out jeremy hughes chicago shots...he's got some good pics of messengers in action. he was able to capture 1168 and 6414 as you see in the pic above and the ever elusive...6646...