ASK QUESTIONS Felix working - Along the road I saw a sign, it read Herbie’s Radiator Service with a arrow pointing down the road. So I followed. I saw several older men sitting in the garage talking. I introduced myself and showed them the articles from the Tribune. Thinking they would be impressed, they just looked at me matter of factly. I asked if Herbie was here so I could get his permission to photograph on his property. They replied no. I asked if he would be back soon and they said no. He was dead one of them said plainly. I paused and said I was sorry. I then asked who owned the shop now. His son Felix now runs the radiator shop they said. I asked if he was around. No they said. I hesitantly asked if he would be back soon. They said he was at the doctor and would be back before noon. I smiled and sighed and told them I would come back in a while.

When I returned one of the men was gone but Felix there. He was puzzled why I wanted to photograph there but he agreed. He was working the others watched him. There was silence so I began to ask them questions about living in Tampa. They immediately opened up and told me how much they loved Tampa – two of them had emigrated from Cuba. The stories started coming one after another. Two hours later I was hungry and the men gave me a list of five or six of their favorite places to eat. It was a great day.