Clock rodeo (last wound-up) — Based on ‘thanks’

FREDERIC JOHN

Artist/Vendor

Words can’t express The joy in my face –Faith, fate Saved my place!

My Story

RICARDO MERIEDY Artist/Vendor

Before getting to my story, I’d like to thank all my donors in Silver Spring, Md. You are so many I can’t remember all your names; fortunately, you know who you are. I just want you to know I’m grateful for everything you do for me. God knows that in my heart I truly appreciate all the hugs, the communication, the laughs and the fun we have every Saturday. Thank you, thank you, everybody!

Now, my life story.

I was born Jan. 2, 1960 in the District, the eighth child of Julia and Otis Meriedy. They had another after me, so I grew up with four sisters and four brothers. Our childhood was difficult because I lost my mother at the age of six. My mother was young when she died in a tragic accident, which meant my father had to raise nine kids by himself. He can say he did a wonderful job. He made sure we had a home and food to eat. I will always love you for that, daddy. God bless your soul.

My mother’s accident happened when she was straightening her hair over the stove — that’s how they did it back in the day. My father came in the kitchen, slipped on a skateboard and fell on top of the stove, where there was a pot of hot grease. The grease spilled all over my mom and she burned to death.

I remember that day like yesterday. What haunts me so much is that my father slipped on my skateboard. As I’ve gotten older I fault myself for what happened, like if I just had picked up my skateboard in the kitchen mom wouldn’t have died so young. So I know from experience it hurts a lot growing up as a kid without your mother.

Life’s journey

JOSIE BROWN

Artist/Vendor

From 1999 to 2005, I stayed at a shelter in D.C. At the time, I was homeless and living on the streets with my children. But one day, a social services worker picked us up and took us to a shelter and helped us get into transitional housing and assisted living housing.

I soon found employment and found our own housing. I began working for a temp agency and did work at restaurants as a prep cook, cashier and cleaner. This was the first time I got to work in a long time. Before I became homeless and stayed at the shelter, I was in college majoring in special education. I wanted to work with people who had developmental disabilities and this is still something I am very passionate about.