Thanks, Jim. That was immensely heartwarming. 
Makes me wish I had the stones (pun intended) to do the same …
May I ask where you do your busking (city, country)? And are you intentionally busking (i.e. hat up, obviously seeking tips), or just playing for yourself and others’ enjoyment?
I most often am just playing outside somewhere, and may attract attention, but only on a rare occasion has someone tossed a coin or a bill my way.
For the curious …
and good on you as well!
~the Fyffer
It’s flash photography that gets to me, those lights startling and blinding you. You have to stop and tell them, “Don’t daze me, bro!”
Nice story, Jim.
City. I need people with money and in a good mood, lots of em. Yes, it’s intentional. I bring along a
jar, a bowl, something that manifests the intention of collecting tips. You never know what’s
going to happen. YOu can make lots of money in a short time or stand there for an hour
and make nothing. And you are at the bottom of the social heap, a busker.
And you can play your heart out. Initially I was terrified but finally it becomes
routine.
I used to do it a fair bit. Had to. Didn’t have any money. I don’t think I’d do it now unless I had a really good cover story.
I think that Jim is in Tucson now, and that makes it a little easier than having to stand in the snow with frozen fingers trying to play an instrument. If I can sell flutes, I prefer not to busk, although I have in the past. I can alternate on the guitar/singing, fiddle, or the flute or whistle, none of it very good. But it doesn’t have to be very good, as there usually aren’t many critics passing by. I’m holding on to busking as a survival skill that I may have to implement in the future if the politician insist on messing around with Social Security, which is the only thing keeping millions of people away from starvation’s door.
Well, I going to play a couple of hours a day, anyway. Might as well make some money.
And I can use it…
If you want to play outside in Minneapolis, you can only get slightly secluded. Who would have thought that some one would choose the nastiest hill to do laps on their bike?
I don’t think that is true.
Well, I agree I’m not at the very bottom. I guess that would be panhandling.
Still, there I am, Jim Stone, Ph. D., Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, standing
on the sidewalk playing for tips in front of a supermarket. Makes for humility.
position in the ‘Social heap’? It all depends on how you look at it. 
dung beetles
On the few occasions I’m in Aberdeen city centre these days it always makes facing the baying shopping crowds a bit easier if I encounter a talented busker. There’s a decent fiddler that sometimes shows up for the farmers market and I always throw something into his case and stop for a listen.
On the other hand nothing makes a bad day worse than hearing the tone deaf bagpipe player that’s appeared recently or the old gypsy woman strumming the open strings on a guitar with a toothbrush.