nashville Archives

A Nice Thing Happened in Nashville

Jan 15 2014

I was in Nashville with Nissan a couple months ago. Mark Richardson and I were outside the city, testing the new Hybrid Pathfinder.

We passed these parade floats, and stopped to pose the car.

Two gentleman appeared, groundskeepers. Mark kept clicking, I went over to say hi.

He was so curious about Canada. What’s it like there? Then:

Him: Do you have black people there?
Me: Yup.
Him: Do you have gay people there?
Me: Yup. Some are black and gay. No one cares in Canada.

He said he didn’t understand gay people, it was confusing, why would they choose to do that?

I responded with my logic line, “being gay is tough, right? So, why would anyone choose a harder life?”

That started sinking in, and then Mark’s timing was perfect: he walked up at this exact moment, and said he was gay.

Our new friend’s eyes almost came out of his head. “But, you seem normal, we were just joking, but…..”. It was all over his face, trying to process this anomaly.

And then, THE moment.

Mark stuck out his hand, and slowly, our new friend reached out and shook it. Eyes still like saucers. I laughed and clapped and said do it again, and he did. The second time his face registered proudness. This was the first time he’d met a gay person, and had been brave enough to touch him. I’m literally smiling while typing this, it was special like that.

It was amazing to watch his mind rewire.

Then Mark snapped us to commemorate the moment.

We’d have liked a photo of him and Mark, but after those 2 handshakes, the guy was visibly overwhelmed, enough was enough.

Off we went grinning, one less homophobe, tada.

Street Magic

Nov 26 2013

That’s street magician Ryan Shadow, of Nashville TN. A great act.

Bottom left: note his business card… and the absence of any internet presence (no email, website).

Interesting.

This is downtown Nashville with Nissan, when I was there testing their all-new Rogue (here’s my review).

And Didier – making an official blog pledge here to you – one day I’ll prove magic ;)

Pathfinder with Parade Float

Nov 26 2013

The floats belong to the Tennessee State University (TSU).

It’s a 2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid.

And that’s another entry into:

Special Car Photos: photographing cars in special places

Photo composition by Marc Richardson and I.

Holy Negative Camber

Nov 13 2013

A classic Honda Civic eh.

Spotted in Nashville, TN.

To Nashville with Nissan

Nov 12 2013

Nashville, Tennessee – where the all-new 2014 Nissan Rogue is built; that’s why there.

I’ve always liked this city, here’s the blog tag.

Jeremy Sinek and I were drive partners again, I’ve introduced you before. We are hilarious.

We found this odd, movie-set-town inside the city; fake-land.

Not being a fan of music, the best of this city is lost on me.

Still fun night out with the auto journalist gang.

Some of us became obsessed with this street magician; he was so good, I’ll put him in his own post later this week. He put a cigarette out into my shirt.