Friday, June 21, 2002

Memories...

I'd take the MARC train to Union Station and then the Metro to the Pentagon for work. If I could manage to get done at a decent hour, I'd hop the Metro back to Union Station and walk the two blocks to class. Night law school -- gotta love it.

DC always had panhandlers and although I felt rotten and a certain amount of guilt, I was not big on dropping change into their cups.

I saved my bills for the street musicians. Probably for the same reason I always put "bread in the jar" for the guitarists who play in pubs or small restaurants.

One of my little brothers is a singer -- baritone, classical opera training and everything. So seeing the musicians and singers practicing and making some cash with their skills reminds me of him and how some day he might be out in the world performing and relying on the appreciation of strangers.

There was this one sax player who was really good. He'd stay and play all night. If he was still there on my way to catch the last train home, he'd take care of my thirty minute wait much better than reviewing dry texts I could care less about. Right before Christmas, he kept up a continuous stream of carols, even in the cold.

The Times has a survey of the subway musicians of NY City -- Sampling the Music Beneath as It Prepares to Rise Above. There is even a bit about one of the founding members of the Manhattan Lyric Opera.

Reading it brought all this to mind.

posted by Bohica at 12:16 PM