The cylindrical celosia behind the benches has turned gray.\u00a0 Only the gomphrena contributes color, its magenta buttons rising 6 feet on skinny stems.\u00a0 The invasive wild asters have begun to wilt.\u00a0 Farther down the path, boneset has overgrown half the wood anemone; the other half sports 18 flowers, most of them from the lower reaches of the plant.\u00a0 The smaller plant, without any weedy interference, has at least 30 flowers.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I set up in the unseasonable heat and played for a full 30 minutes without a single contribution.\u00a0 It looked as if, for the first time, I might be shut out.\u00a0 I stopped for a rest and a long drink of water.\u00a0 As I started again, a family of 3 walked by, and dad pulled out a dollar for me.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Two women stopped some distance away and turned their backs.\u00a0 They were going through their change purses, which together yielded 80 cents.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A 12-year-old came off the benches with another dollar, then joined his family as they left the area.\u00a0 The benches were empty now.\u00a0 Anyone with any sense had moved into the shade of the arcade, where a doo-wop group was performing.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
With 5 minutes left to go in my set, a well-dressed 40-something woman walked through the plaza.\u00a0 \u201cHave you got time for a hula today?\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI could use a hula,\u201d she said.\u00a0 She danced to \u201cThe Hukilau Song,\u201d with effortless motions and a beatific smile.\u00a0 She was from Napa, California.\u00a0 \u201cSorry I don\u2019t have more,\u201d she said, putting a dollar in my case.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cNot a problem.\u00a0 Thanks for stopping.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cAloha.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"