I saw my first acorn today. Fuzzy finger-long magnolia buds fatten in the sun; a pink tissue of flower petals was visible in a few of them. The chestnut tree is mostly black. <\/p>\n
As I got to the fountain, Meta was packing up. She told me she\u2019d been there since 9 o\u2019clock, and all had been glorious until the cowboy set up across the way. \u201cHe\u2019s so loud,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot too loud for me. As long as I can\u2019t hear him when I play,\u201d I said, \u201cI figure I\u2019m maintaining busker etiquette.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s my rule too,\u201d Meta said. \u201cI guess you play louder than me, because I can hear him.\u201d<\/p>\n
I set up exactly where I\u2019d been Tuesday. A family of Brazilians slowed as they passed me. Dad was interested in my instrument. \u201cUkulele?\u201d I nodded. He wasn\u2019t inclined to stop, but when first I engaged him over the uke, then his daughter over a hula, they became my first customers of the day.<\/p>\n
A Bolivian man was roaming the fountain area with his 2 daughters. Having seen the Brazilian girl dance, the Bolivian girls thought they\u2019d like to try.<\/p>\n
Keeping with the international theme, a French girl, in denim shorts and a loose fitting tee shirt, danced free style, with lots of arm-waving, head-banging, and hip-shaking energy. She pranced over a lot of real estate during 2 verses of “The Hukilau Song,” ending up where she started, next to me. She gave me back my lei, kissed both cheeks and walked away.<\/p>\n
A man and boy from Toronto liked the music. Neither wanted to dance, but were happy to give me a dollar. All the Americans, it appeared, had already left town for the Labor Day weekend.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"