In real life or in his mind?

As I was climbing the stairs up to the subway station a young guy asked me “Do you need help?” Usually people hold the bottom end of my cart while I hold the top and together we lift it up the stairs. But this guy grabbed my cart with ONE HAND and carried it by himself all the way up the two flights of stairs!

Nobody was at the busking spot at the Times Square subway station when I got there. The record store next to the spot was playing loud music and in addition – they now have video screens in their window. The screen right next to the busking spot was playing an exercise video.

A musical saw player who attended the annual NYC Musical Saw Festival two years ago stopped to say ‘hi’. He doesn’t play the musical saw as much these days.

A guy told me that he plays guitar and asked me about my bow. “Does the hair tear a lot?”
He asked when I would be at this spot again and I explained that on account of the hardship the record store owners are giving buskers, I only come to this spot once every two weeks these days. The guy replied: “See you in two weeks!”

Dave and his three sons who play guitar and percussion on the trains stopped to say ‘hi’.
A man and a woman were handing out religious pamphlets titled ‘End of Times News’, published by the Praise Temple in the Bronx. I was playing ‘Danny Boy’ and the pamphlet guy sang along with me as he was distributing his pamphlets. I told him that he has a nice voice. He asked if I have other religious songs I could play. I told him I do, but on account of the loud music coming out of the store I can’t play soft music – no one would hear me. He said “No, you play – G-D will make you heard. I could hear you from way over there despite the noise from the store” he said, pointing to the other end of the mezzanine.

Guitar player/singer Luke Ryan’s daughter and his grandson came to say ‘hi’. It was her birthday and her four and a half year old son was taking her out.

Martina, who used to sing opera in the subway dressed as an angel with wings, came to say ‘hi’. She doesn’t sing in the subway any more – she is trying to focus on auditioning.

The religious pamphlet guy asked me how he could get a permit to perform in the subway. He said he wants to preach in the subway. I told him he doesn’t need a permit for that but he said he wants to bring his son to play the keyboard and drums while he is preaching.

Wane, the big homeless guy with curly hair who always carries a big back-pack, came to say ‘hi’. He told me he has $20,000 by now. He said he travels a lot to Oregon. I’m not sure if that is in real life or in his mind…