Theodore Sears’ familiarity with Street Roots began 10 years ago, much like many Street Roots vendors, as a customer. After buying that first paper, “I got started selling papers right away,” he said.
He’s seen the paper grow and change since “way back then,” he said. “It’s amazing that the paper still costs only a dollar!”
Ten years ago marked a turning point in Theodore’s life for a variety of reasons. First, he said, “my family got mixed up with child welfare services.” As he explained, “it was an ugly scenario. I couldn’t go to work. I had a back injury which resulted in bouts with epilepsy and intense pain. I had to use a wheelchair to get around.”
Ten years later, Theodore is still contending with wheelchair life. “Life in a wheelchair sucks,” he said. “Especially if you’ve got your basic hospital wheelchair and you gotta learn how to manipulate ways to move around.”
Today, after a decade of struggling to make ends meet with learning disabilities and dyslexia, Theodore is beginning to understand his place in his family’s cycle of abuse. “My dad was mentally ill. He was my abuser. I have battled with that abuse since childhood,” he said. “But that was a long time ago. As I get older, I can begin to understand the effect on me. And I can focus on now.”
Now, Theodore only sometimes needs the wheelchair. He lives with his uncle as a caregiver.
“One guarantee I have right now is that I have housing,” he said. Theodore provides his uncle with much needed health care support, making sure his uncle takes his medications on time and doing the necessary chores around the apartment. “My job is to make sure that he’s comfortable. Even though my back is so messed up, I still do the best I can. My uncle and I get along quite well,” he said.
“I don’t know what the future holds for me,” Theodore said. “For now, I’m providing respite care for my family. And I do odd jobs for friends.”
And for now, there are many things that give Theodore joy.
“My greatest hobby and joy in my life is fixing things. And making things from scratch.” Last week Theodore and his friend completed a project. “We built something beautiful: a powered garden cart made out of parts from a wheelchair and a garden cart. That’s what I love to do — create things. It’s beautiful! You can’t just go to the store and ask for a powered garden cart. We decided, well we’ve got the parts. We put the two together. Yes, it’s beautiful!”
Theodore looks forward to many things: “to realizing better income opportunities and to receiving my stimulus check soon.” He’s also planning to work on losing some weight, maybe as much as 50 pounds. But, he said with a laugh, “I love to cook. I make wonderful food, especially pasta. It makes everyone smile when it comes to the table. And I love to eat,” he said.
But especially, Theodore is looking forward to summer, when he and his buddies can go fishing around Mount Hood. “You want the cleanest water you can find. We go for the catch-and-release only,” he said.
And he’s also looking forward to gardening soon. Theodore’s style of gardening is by building up from his compost. “My compost is my garden bed during winter months. By the time spring rolls around, I stir up the soil, put tomatoes and peppers and flowers in and watch them grow.”
You can meet Theodore and ask him about his gardening or recent inventions at either of his two Street Roots posts: in front of Starbucks on Northeast 28th Avenue and Burnside Street or in front of the Bipartisan Café on Southeast Stark Street and 79th Avenue.
Street Roots is an award-winning weekly publication focusing on economic, environmental and social justice issues. The newspaper is sold in Portland, Oregon, by people experiencing homelessness and/or extreme poverty as means of earning an income with dignity. Street Roots newspaper operates independently of Street Roots advocacy and is a part of the Street Roots organization. Learn more about Street Roots. Support your community newspaper by making a one-time or recurring gift today.
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