After a morning\u2019s worth of chores, I managed to get to my location by the lake around noon. The park was quiet, even though the weather was delightful, with full sun and a cool breeze. Between the fountain and my spot is a cherry tree with blossoms as big as your fist. One branch is so heavy it rests on the ground before shooting back up toward the sky. It is a favorite spot for bridal pictures.<\/p>\n
Whenever I see a bride and groom I stop what I\u2019m playing and launch into \u201cThe Hawaiian Wedding Song.\u201d Most of the time, the couple has no clue what I\u2019m singing, although sometimes an amused bystander will reward me with a dollar and a smile. Today, however, the bride eagerly assented to a hula dance, while her groom stood nearby holding her rose bouquet. <\/p>\n
I was also paid a visit by Maggie, a black scottie with whom I\u2019ve made acquaintance over the years. It is Maggie\u2019s wont to sit right in front of me and listen with rapt attention. This pose attracts the dog lovers walking by who snap photos and question the owner about age and breed. Once or twice a season, the owner will drop a buck or two in my case, but mostly we chat about the weather. I now know a number of dogs and their owners; like the other musicians, they are part of my park experience, familiar faces in the crowd to mark the continuity of the seasons.<\/p>\n
A birthday girl stopped to hula. Perhaps in her 20\u2019s, she and her friends danced around to \u201cThe Hukilau Song.\u201d A group from Ottawa stopped to watch, but no one felt comfortable enough to put on a lei and join in.<\/p>\n
On my way out of the park, with $9.67 in my pocket, I spotted the hula-hooping violinist. A thin, young Asian woman with long black hair, she usually set up near the information booth by Daniel Webster, but today she was at the far end of the fountain. I have often admired her showmanship, marking time with her hoop-twirling hips to the strains of Mozart and Bach. As they sing in Gypsy, \u201cYou gotta have a gimmick if you wanna get ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"