Have a problem? Just want to talk? Look for the man in the lawn chair with the propeller cap.
HARVARD SQUARE — If you’re passing through this bustling neighborhood once known for its quirky and off-beat outdoor entertainment, there’s simply no avoiding George Vaill.
With his bushy grey mustache, technicolor propeller hat, and cartoonish black spectacles and bright-yellow sneakers, he lounges in a camping chair beneath a large sign that says, “FREE ADVICE, OFFERED OR ACCEPTED.”
Try to avoid eye contact as you stroll by and he’ll wave and say hello anyway, and then offer you a sticker with a link to his website.
But those lured in by the charismatic 76-year-old, who’s become a fixture of the square since he started doling out free advice three summers ago, will walk away with much more than that: They’ll be regaled with pearls of wisdom, free of charge. For a few minutes, he’ll listen intently to your quandaries, offer you help, and expect nothing in return.
“A lot of times people lack self-confidence in their ability to make good choices for themselves,” Vaill said, in between consultations with strangers one recent Thursday afternoon. “Whatever it is, they don’t believe in themselves enough. They don’t love themselves enough. They don’t respect themselves enough. So they’re hesitant about a lot of the things they’re doing in life.”