East Side Access

On the subway train, travelling to my Music Under New York busking spot of the day, the guy I sat next to saw the sign on my busking cart (which advertises my CD and said: “You should sell t-shirts with that on”. Turns out he is a track safety worker for the MTA and he…

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If I Murder My Wife, Can I Marry You?

Climbing the stairs up to the subway station with my heavy busking gear, I noticed a guy wearing an MTA shirt who was also walking up the stairs. “Excuse me…” I said to him. MTA guy: “I’m sorry, I can’t help you (motioning to my busking cart) – MTA rules – we can’t touch anything”.…

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They Came Up For Air

At the subway station, the lights were off and temporary emergency lights were on. I asked an MTA track worker why the “candle-light atmosphere”. He said they are working on the station and needed to turn off the lights, but the train is working. It gave the station a romantic atmosphere 🙂 At the Music…

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The Israeli Connection

When I arrived at the Music Under New York busking spot at the 34th street subway station, an Andean pan-flute player has been playing there for two hours. Tomorrow he has a booth at a street fair where he sells Andean clothings. He is worried that it might rain and the street fair will be…

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This is New York

A man sitting on the stairs leading to the subway station was smoking a cigarette. He offered to help me bring my busking gear up the stairs “as long as it’s not a baby”, he said. At the top of the first flight of stairs he fell to the floor. He immediately got up. “Are…

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He Needed It More

At the subway station MTA personnel were working on the station, clearing the walls and hanging up new subway maps. They recognized me as I passed by. “Hey, it’s ‘Saw Lady’”, one of them said. They told me that they will be at the Times Square subway station on Wednesday and asked me if they’ll…

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Do the Cartoon Sound

While waiting for the train at the subway station, I noticed seven big white panels on the floor, laying against the wall of the opposite platform. It looks like maybe the MTA is preparing to have ads on the walls of the station. It’s about time. At the City Hall subway station four guys were…

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But I Still Love You

As I was riding the train towards my busking spot, a guy with a tape-recorder in his hands boarded the train at the 59th street subway station. He asked me if I was going to 14th street. I told him that today I’m playing at the Grand Central Station’s Shuttle to Times Square. Man: “But…

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Occupational Hazards

The train rolled slowly into the subway station, on account of the track workers repairing the tracks. As the first car went by me the train driver smiled and nodded at me. Two track workers passed by me as I was waiting to get into the train. One of them asked me how I was…

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Peace in Your Heart

Two guys helped me bring my busking gear up all the stairs to the subway station. When I got to the turnstile, I found 3 pennies. So – it felt like a lucky day. As I was passing through the turnstile a lady said “SawLady!” and smiled hello at me. Two MTA construction workers were…

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