Anyway, today I was walking down the street and I saw these two people sitting there with this (questionable) sign:

I pulled over to the side to see what happens when someone stops– but after a couple dozen people walked by without a second glance I realized it was going to be me that was going to have to do the stopping. I walked up to them and said, ‘Ok, I stopped. Whatchoo got?’ The guy said, ‘I’d like to play a song for you.’ And he took out a guitar which he had in a case next to him.

My first thought was, ‘Uch! Why’d I stop!? A song?! Uch! I thought I was gonna get a secret tidbit of something!! Some performance art something something! Instead now I’m stuck here having to awkwardly stand through some guy playing me a cover of Eagle Eye Cherry or something!?

(btw I’ve never been comfortable with someone singing specifically for me. Mariachi Bands at the table… Crooner girls… whatever. Any one-on-one eye contact while singing and I go all inner squirm. It’s weird.)

Anyway, he starts gearing up to sing and I thought I should get out my iphone 4 and record what was about to happen. Good or bad what would be the harm in recording? I got my new fancy iPhone 4. I could throw it up on the youtubes for better or worse. They probably wouldn’t mind if I recorded it…

But I resisted. I beat back the thought of recording. Because lately, I’m finding it increasingly important to just experience some stuff straight-up without the fidget of a gadget. To not indulge the inner murmur of what can be done with it. Or feel the need attach purpose or permanence to it. Exploit. I’m thinking sometimes some things should just ‘be’.

I get the idea of a cat falling off a countertop into a trashcan NEEDS to be recorded to be appreciated and a devastating loss when unrecorded– but when I go to shows and stuff now the high level of recording makes me wonder about the increasing disconnect in simple personal experience appreciation. And perhaps, the value of sometimes keeping things for yourself sometimes is a worthwhile challenge.

Anyway, I stood there. They guy sang a song with his eyes closed the whole time (appreciated totally). His girl didn’t chime in (appreciated totally). The song and the musician were surprisingly good. A complete song he wrote himself with a little cover of something weaved into the bridge. Yadda yadda. They were both friendly and nice. Zack and Ashley I think– but I’m bad with names. Afterwards, I gave him $5 as thanks– and asked to take their picture.

Yeah, as I walked away I kicked myself a little for not recording– as this post would probably be alot more interesting if I went the other way and succumbed to my iphone– but sometimes (once in a while) I’m thinking in cases like that… resistance isn’t futile.

ok bye!

tOdd

PS. Here‘s the Eagle Eye Cherry hit– in lieu of my non-record.

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