After a hard rain Friday, the sun came out, and so did I. The park was alternately cooled by a damp breeze under roiling gray clouds, or steamed by vapors rising from the hot sun-baked bricks. A trio of college girls coasted on their bikes and came to a stop near me. They were from the Jersey Shore and immediately agreed to a hula. Midway through the first verse of \u201cThe Hukilau Song,\u201d however, they quit and walked away.<\/p>\n
An Italian man watched proudly as his daughter danced. It was his first time in New York; he was pretty sure it was the most wonderful city in the world.<\/p>\n
I got a thumbs-up and a dollar from a 40-something man. He had been sitting a few degrees of arc around the fountain where I could not see him. Another happy surprise came from a teen-aged boy, who walked up from the water\u2019s edge and said, \u201cI really enjoyed your music.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the end of my set I pocketed $3. I was happy to have gotten out when the weather looked so awful, and I even earned back my carfare. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"