Thursday, June 6, 2013

Willow In Chinese

This morning, I woke up at a brand new spot which I discovered after missing the ferry (by 3 minutes) last night, and following my intuition towards a bunch of bushes across the street from Harrahs Casino, which were saying "Pssst!"
Should I introduce them to a Grateful Dead song?
I was able to lay on a soft grassy spot, surrounded by cover and slept until almost 9 a.m. when a Spanish street sweeper guy in a blue shirt and green pants came around and swept up a bit and said "Good morning."
I got up and immediately went to work on the song "It Was A Very Good Year," by Frank Sinatra; mostly making sure I had all the words in my head.
It is about the simplest song that I know; but I can picture Tanya Huang stretching out the melody pretty dramatically; should she tap into the meloncholy and nostalgic feel of the thing....
Or, it might become turbo-charged, and go into double time at the point of her solo, like so many of their songs (Pachobels Canon in D turns into an uptempo romp halfway through, for example) should it feel like it is dragging....
"When I was 35; it was a very good year. It was a very good year for blue blooded girls of independent means...we rode in limosines...their chauffers would drive....when I was
35...."
Return Of The Swedes
The Swedish guys happened upon me last night where I was busking on Decatur Street in a spot where I haven't played in months (the "red door" spot).
I guess I was at that spot, which is nearby Caseys IntheQuarter, because I had gone by there only to see a sign on the door stating "Closed for cleaning," which meant that I couldn't go in and ask them if the Jasmine guitar had been dropped off there.
I thought I was playing pretty well; working on possible songs for tonight at Caseys.
The Swedish guys didn't seem to be in the best mood; handing me the guitar and then not sticking around to converse. I wondered if they had overspent their money and were wishing they had the 30 bucks back...they certainly didn't throw me a tip...
Jasmine Sold Again...Or...
Then, I walked to Royal Street carrying two guitars, and wishing someone would offer me money for the second one.
I soon spotted a guy who had been trying to buy my Yamaha from me the other night.
Not
He gave me 10 dollars for it; but then changed his mind after discovering the one tuning machine which has to be wound the wrong way...
So, I went and hid the Jasmine in the bushes near the ferry terminal; carrying it was a burden...
Willow In Chinese
Then, I was on a corner and I saw a couple of young Chinese people.
The girl had eyes a lot like Tanyas.
"Are you from China?" I asked.
Yes, they were.
They had just graduated from Tulane University, after majoring in Finance.
The girl had many questions to ask me. "Can you play me something?" was the first one...
After "Dear Prudence,"  she stood with her face a mere foot from mine and asked me all about my life.
She looked me in the eye unflinchingly and  with an expression of innocent wonderment and smiled the whole time.
Her face was shiney and her skin was perfect; and I thought that I had fallen in love.
The guy gave me 6 dollars.
Willow, as that was her name, walked alongside of me until we got to Bourbon Street and I realised that it had to end (she's going back to China), so I excused myself, but not before saying "You are beautiful! I just wanted to tell you that" to her..
"Thank you"
Her name is Willow. but "Willow in Chinese," she clarified.

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