Ball says he s amazed by the kindness of strangers. He s had one close call with a car that nearly hit him when the driver was distracted. Walking through tough East Los Angeles, he heard what he thought may have been menacing remarks from some young Hispanic men. Ball gave the men a little card that explained what he s doing. They gave me these special handshakes.
Ball sometimes picks up stuff along the road like tools or coins.
He carries a leather pouch in which he collects those little weights used in tire balancing. He s collected more than 300 pounds so far, and expects eventually to pick up 3,000 pounds. Some day, he says, they ll be in a sculpture. He envisions it someplace visible, like the United Nations Headquarters, a big sculpture of a throw-away child needing our help. Mail Tribune, Inc.