Friday, June 11, 2010

Enough to make me Ride the escalator

I'm a walker - a fast walker.

Sometimes I smash into people accidently bump people in my hurry to get from place A to B.

I am an avid Metro (i.e. Subway) rider and there are rules about the escalators - "Stand Right, Walk or if you're TGND, run Left" yes, that's me running up the escalator - in heels.

But some lucky mornings there is one thing that makes me Stand Right and Ride.

At the top of the escalator just outside the Metro station are two gentlemen - probably in their 50's - who entertain me. I hear the melodies from far below in the station long before I see them. Instantly, a smile crosses my face and my day just got brighter.

One plays the violin, one plays the electric bass guitar. It might seem like an unlikely pair, but it works so well. And these guys are NOT making up the same ol' few lines over and over. They have music. I read music. I know complicated 16th notes when I see them. And these are very complicated runs, played beautifully.

And so, when I hear their music wafting down to the depths of the metro, I pause, Stand Right, and listen. When I reach the top of the escalator, I pause, watch for a moment, drop a dollar in their bucket and tell them how excellent they are. They always smile appreciatively as they play.

Someday I might even pause long enough to find out who they are and why they are there. Until then, I will enjoy the moment.

5 comments:

Jenn @ Juggling Life said...

I don't get that driving my car. Very cool.

Jason, as himself said...

Good thing there are a few things in life that will slow us down a bit!

J.G. said...

Hearing them must totally get your day off on the right foot. The metro really can be a moveable feast.

In case you haven't heard of it before, here's just one example (true story): http://www.hoax-slayer.com/joshua-bell-subway.shtml

dkuroiwa said...

I miss those kind of moments. here, the only street performers are those that are in the shopping arcades, in the evenings...late in the evenings.
Moments like those? yeah. they just make a day.

dkuroiwa said...

(oh...and i'm a fast walker, too...i leave most of my short-legged japanese friends in the dirt ;-) i've also been known to take stair two at a time!)