About five years ago, my brother rented a room for a short time from a real character known to me as “Captain Riley”. Riley is one of those people who lives life outside the lines. He has endless stories to tell of his days as a commercial boat captain, his time working as a farmer, and even a career of sorts as an actor/model.
One day, while picking my brother up for dinner, I photographed Captain Riley. I simply had to photograph him. He was hanging out in the back yard on and around his derelict boat. The two made quite a pair, both in their own permanent dry dock, with only hints of their prior glory days showing through the more prominent signs of hard living. Riley climbed up on the bow of the boat, cheap beer in hand, and began telling his stories with animated delight to have a willing listener.
He told stories of his days as a boat captain. He described how he lost two toes to heavy farm equipment. There were stories of drugs, brawls, and binges. Riley struck me as a sort of unfettered Hemingway soul mate. When telling his stories, he didn’t hold back but he managed to tell them with polite language and a sensitivity to his female audience. He was a gentleman.
This afternoon, I got a call from my mother. She told me she read an article in the paper about Captain Riley. Apparently, he shot and killed a boarder. My first thought was that I was glad my brother was no longer living there. After that, my thoughts went back to that late afternoon in his backyard, listening to his stories.
I found myself wondering how it is that some rules, rules like not cursing when in the company of women, opening doors, being polite etc. seem to stick like there isn’t an option while others like not killing people seem more like a mere suggestion.
I can’t claim surprise that Captain Riley shot someone. He’s a man that has lived his life with disregard for rules and consequence. I’m pretty sure if he was arrested by a female officer, he tipped his hat and at least attempted to open the car door for her.
Click here for the newpaper article.
Click here for his arrest and booking information.
by LME
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