It's rather unusual for me to have so many wonderful moments, or at least moments that capture my attention as the previous one I described. Perhaps, like the commuters and passersby, I too become so absorbed in my own task, my performance with my instrument, to really take note of the reaction that my presence is having on those around me. Like Joshua, I can get very involved with my music making.

As there are many distractions to contend with while playing on the street, I often close my eyes to concentrate on what I'm trying to present. Flexing 213 razor sharp spring steel teeth betwixt your knees, with the pointy parts mere millimeters away from body parts I hold near and dear, demands that kind of careful undivided attention. Lest my clammy grip should slip and divide something that might not grow back! Yikes! Even my bottleneck blues slidin' is hard to present in that environment without focusing on my presentation and that often means closing my eyes to what is playing out around me.

I'm certain that I miss a lot of moments due to this. I've been approached by listeners who note this and comment to me about what I am missing. They always mention the looks on the faces of those who are watching as I play my saw. Yesturday, one woman's comment was, "Astounding!" Afterward, she claimed, with a huge smile on her face, to be an international musical saw authority. That my playing was able to evoke such a positive and jovial response makes this activity such a joy to present.

One more very sweet scene took place yesterday. A group of little ones, numbering perhaps twenty, approached me as I was finishing one of my bottleneck blues songs on my homemade Nobro guitar. They were with several adults who were escorting them around the Market. I offered to play them a melody on my saw and inquired as to what they would enjoy hearing me play. One of the smallest boys asked for the A-B-C song, one of my most requested songs by children of that age. I looked up while playing to see and hear him quietly singing along.

Then one of the adults requested that I play it once more. As I did she and all of the rest of the children and adults joined me in a rendition of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. I really enjoy those moments when groups like this choose to join me and sing along. You see it change the feeling of everyone in the surrounding area. Others stop and watch and smiles are on everyone's faces as they partake in the moment.

I was very surprised to then get a request from one of the smallest girls, who wanted to hear me play Over The Rainbow. Usually I reserve my rendition of this one for older audiences and play a long version of it. I've never regarded this song as one that very small children might be familiar with. I now know how mistaken I was in that assumption. I played an abreviated version of just the first two verses and to my surprise, once again, the entire assembled group of children and adults all began to spontaneously sing along. What a great way to start a day!