guitar wielding bums

ok,, gotta be quick... it's bedtime..

actually i wanted to write a lengthy blog about this subject,, but oh well...

first off,, i want to add to my last blog.. i went back to that jobsite and checked the port o john... someone called me a "pussy".... i'm amused..


anyhow,, yesterday on the way to church, I saw a man walking with a guitar. his clothes were a little tattered and his beard unkempt. he walked slow but purposefully. almost as if he's made this walk thousands of times. as i drove through the red light, he was setting up shop on the corner, setting his things down and getting ready to play.

as i drove off, I pondered his situation, but within seconds i was back to wondering if i was gonna make it to church on time,, coupled with a wondering of why the worship team thinks they need to meet so dang early on sundays to practice... i mean,, eight o'clock is really pushing it for me.


anyhow,, the man was quickly pushed far far back in the ol' brain,, and i never thought of him again the rest of the afternoon. I left the church and retired on my couch to watch tv and nap for the next few hours.

around five thirty i started getting ready to return to church for the evening service. I don't know which is harder; getting out of bed to get ready to leave, or getting off the couch to get ready to leave.... both are astoundingly complicated processes for me...

anyhow, as i exited beach street and pulled up to the red light, I saw the guitar carrying bum again!!! he was still there!! on the same corner!!!

i couldn't believe it... nearly ten hours later he was still standing in the weather playing his guitar. i mean,, i like playing the guitar,, and i live getting paid to do it even more.. but,,, i've never played for ten hours straight...

either that dude really loves music,, or he really loves drinking...

i guess like most professional musicians,, he also really loves not having a job..

but i think,,, i would rather work than have to stand on a corner and play for ten hours...


anyhow,, at least i got to hear him play this time... wasn't too bad,, he was doin' a blues number.... i gave him a dollar,, he in turn thanked me,, and proceeded to stand by my window and serenade me until the light turned green..


anyhow,, i've just been thinking about that,,, and how i wouldn't mind bums so much if they all tried to put a little effort into getting handouts... and i wonder how much that guy makes in a day... i bet it's pretty substantial,,, i watched him pull in three dollars in the couple minutes i was there...

anyhow,, he may not be contributing to society,, or the paying taxes,,, or taking care of his illegitimate children,, or changing the world..... but he did improve my day.. he reminded me that even though i will probably never be in a "successful" band, or make more than a few hundred dollars a year playing,, or be considered a good musician by anyone other than family members and long time friends; it shouldn't discourage me from playing.... and playing often.. after all,, it's not about where you are or who's listening,, it's about the music,, and the moment... it's about creativity.. and casting inhibition to the wind for a few minutes, while you forget who's watching or what kind of face you might be making, and how much money you owe the bank,, and your douche bag of a boss,, the huge project coming up in your engineering class,, and that girl that's been on your mind,, or the future in general,,, etc etc........


anyhow,, i'll stop with the artsy fartsy stuff,,, long story short,,, dude was out there a long time,,, i bet his fingers were killing him..