{"id":1013,"date":"2018-05-02T10:57:12","date_gmt":"2018-05-02T14:57:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mrukulele.com\/?p=1013"},"modified":"2018-05-02T10:57:12","modified_gmt":"2018-05-02T14:57:12","slug":"may-day-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.mrukulele.com\/?p=1013","title":{"rendered":"May Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

The wave of red tulips behind the benches at the entrance to the park at 72nd<\/sup> St. has given way to a wave of white tulips.\u00a0 Purple hyacinth and wood hyacinth are holding up nicely, and in the middle of it all a bleeding heart stretches out its branches, the little white flowers with red centers hanging like carillon bells over the undergrowth.\u00a0 Deep green rose bushes have not yet formed buds.\u00a0 At the northern pergola across the road from Strawberry Fields, wisteria pushes out its first green shoots.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The jazz combo played the singularly inappropriate \u201cMoonlight in Vermont.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Again, I was too late to Bethesda Fountain; the accordionist was pumping away on one side of the fountain, and the single stringed instrument (ehru) player was scratching away at the other.\u00a0 I set up under the maple.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A young couple walked by, whispered to each other, then stopped.\u00a0 The man walked back and put a dollar in my case.\u00a0 A little later, the dad of a family of 4 tossed me 60 cents.\u00a0 An affianced couple and their photographer stopped in front of me for a photo shoot.\u00a0 We took some pictures together, then the photographer asked if the man could hold my uke while I stepped out of the picture.\u00a0 Finally, the photographer asked if I might be so kind as to lend the man my hat.\u00a0 Afterwards, the man returned uke, hat and a fiver.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Toward the end of my set, the big bubble man walked by with his bucket in order to get more water at the boathouse.\u00a0 \u201cThe fountain misses you,\u201d he said.\u00a0 I explained that others had got there before me.\u00a0 \u201cThe Chinese guy is gone now,\u201d he told me.\u00a0 \u201cAnd you\u2019re so much better than that accordion.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ordinarily I finish my set where I start it, but with 15 minutes left, I folded up my case with all my paraphernalia in it and returned to center stage.\u00a0 A little girl of 3 or 4 was hanging out with her mom at the edge of the fountain.\u00a0 Enthralled by my solar-powered hula girls, she shyly approached for a better look.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHave you got time for a hula today?\u201d\u00a0 She smiled and said nothing.\u00a0 Looking toward her mom, I got the ok to put a lei around her neck.\u00a0 Her name was Eva, and she danced to \u201cThe Hukilau Song\u201d with her arms held tightly against her body, her hands slowly moving at waist level.\u00a0 Mom gave me a buck.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A young couple, each with a camera, were wandering around the fountain area looking for good pictures.\u00a0 I asked if they\u2019d like to hula; they demurred.\u00a0 As I wrapped up my set, however, the man returned and wanted a photo with me.\u00a0 \u201cNo hula?\u201d I asked again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShe doesn\u2019t want to,\u201d he said, nodding toward his girlfriend as she pointed the camera at us.\u00a0 She shook her head “no” to emphasize the point.\u00a0 He opened his wallet and took out 2 singles.\u00a0 \u201cMaybe next time.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019ll be tomorrow,\u201d I told him.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The wave of red tulips behind the benches at the entrance to the park at 72nd St. has given way …
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