The OGT Daily #47 Street Musicians

Yesterday was a rainy blustery day in the city. March announcing itself: In like a lion, out like a lamb.

It has been the coldest and snowiest winter in many years and so its abrupt end was literally breathtaking.

There was nothing easy about the city yesterday; the rain forcing a form of elevated. chaos, noise, and disgruntlement among its denizens.  I arrived all prepared with my high rain boots, my umbrella, not prepared however for the chaos and the wind!

My train from the suburbs was on time, I knew I'd have about 1 hour prepare my room for class.

Grand Central Station and the subway were more crowded than usually perhaps as a result of the weather. I waited for and hopped on the Eastside IRT headed south to NYU. No a concern in my head. I didn't even take up my headphones for wait was the brief ride down to Astor Place.  But by 33rd Street we were stopped and told there was delay.  5 mins later "Sorry folks there's a delay at Union Square."  At this point I consider getting off, checking my watch and considering the time lost to catch another line or a cab.

Ten minutes later "There's been an incident with a passenger at 14th Street. The delay is indefinite."

Then I know it's real and jump up before anyone else headed for the revolving exit and calculating the distance the next closest option which it the Queens bound R train at 28th.  As the weather had predicted the rains would come at three and here they were pouring down but with wind and so the umbrella became an upside bowl over and over again. I walked into the rain and losing the wind only when I headed west and not south. 

The R train took me directly to 14th Street and the chaos was think in the air.  Packed trains and staircases. Rain slicked steps and dripping parkas.  I wonder about the poor passenger on the IRT and if they had been pushed and this frenzy was part of the reaction.  In the echoing halls of the Union Square subway station, far off in the distance someone screams, in that possibly adolescent, but potentially deadly way. No one seems to notice.  A short woman in a flannel coat and wool cap in front of me with the word pink written in black across her back, curses and grumbles, "God d*** idiot messing up the trains.  Is this good  for anybody? No!  God d*** A** hole."  She is speaking into the crowd creating a path for me to follow into the exit. But there is also to swelling a sweet sound of a base-guitar playing a rhythm that counteracts the chaos. It's loud, but not too, and deep, and broad and permeates the filthy chaos of the subway station.  I see him on the corner, into his rhythm, not minding the crowd just bringing the rhythm.  I give a thumbs up and catch his eye. He nods and smiles and looks back to his fingers. 

I am so grateful that I smile and the chaos dims just a bit.  What hit you with grace today?