I was counting wood anemone flowers (15-13) when an Israeli woman stopped to admire the blossoms.\u00a0 She looked into my face, then recounted this anecdote.\u00a0 \u201cWhen my children were young I took them to many free orchestral concerts.\u00a0 One day, while walking home from one of these events, my son said, \u2018Mommy, I know why Jewish people like the violin so much.\u2019\u00a0 \u2018Why is that?\u2019 I asked him.\u00a0 \u2018Because the violin is the only instrument that cries.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
“Is that a violin?” she asked.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
“It’s a ukulele. \u00a0The only instrument that laughs.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
As we parted she added, \u201cShana Tova,\u201d today being the first day of Rosh Hashana.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It was another hot day, with a gray cloud cover.\u00a0 Schools were closed; the park was again teeming with people.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
At Bethesda Fountain, Colin the cowboy was ending his set with \u201cHotel California\u201d (Eagles, 1976).\u00a0 His recorded accompaniment included a string section and choir.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Far up the path, a man and woman listened to me play \u201cFit as a Fiddle.\u201d\u00a0 Afterward, the man walked down to me and gave me a dollar.\u00a0 \u201cI loved your rendition of that song from \u2018Singin\u2019 in the Rain.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A mixed-gender group of kids from Long Island hesitated, then, one by one, 4 of them donned leis and hulaed.\u00a0 With their backs to me, they organized $3 among them.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A man and his toddler son sat by the fountain to my left.\u00a0 I offered the child my kid-lei, but he ran back to his dad and hid behind him.\u00a0 I continued my set, pretending not to notice when the boy snuck up behind me and swiped a lei.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s not yours,\u201d said dad, who returned the lei, along with 29 cents.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A well-dressed group of moms and kids lingered at the fountain to my right.\u00a0 \u201cHave you got time for a hula today?\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI know how to hula,\u201d said a dark-haired mom.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere\u2019d you learn to hula?\u201d her friend wanted to know. \u00a0Taking a lei, the woman described her childhood in Seattle and the many Hawaiians she knew there.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
To the strains of \u201cThe Hukilau Song,\u201d the woman danced using all the proper hand movements I\u2019ve seen native Hawaiian use.\u00a0 Her friend and all the kids were awestruck.\u00a0 \u201cYou were terrific,\u201d I told her.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cSo were you,\u201d she said, fishing a fiver from her wallet.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cHave you got time for a hula today?\u201d I asked a young woman.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
So we went to the hukilau, after which I asked if I detected an Irish accent.\u00a0 \u201cScotland,\u201d she said.\u00a0 I was abashed.\u00a0 \u201cNo worry, it happens all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A contingent of 20-something Brazilians danced next.\u00a0 They danced energetically through 2 verses, only to find that the girl with the smartphone hadn\u2019t figured out how to record the dance.\u00a0 After some brief instruction, we reprised the second verse, for which I received cheek kisses and a 10-spot.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A man with dreadlocks came by and gave me a fiver, asking for $3 change.\u00a0 \u201cThat ever happen before?\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cAll the time,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cMoney will be no good soon.\u00a0 Listen to me, I\u2019m from the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe you should give me the $3 back.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the present, I still need it, but soon,\u201d he intoned.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Two women, one 70-something, the other perhaps her daughter, would not hula, but asked if they could take a picture with me, for which they gave me $2.\u00a0 I asked the older woman, who spoke with an accent, where she was from.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cBrooklyn.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
By the end of my set my case had filled up nicely, totaling $30.67.\u00a0 Aloha and Shana Tova to all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"