I couldn’t give him an articulate answer. I just really wanted to.

About a month ago, when Cecily Miller, Arlington Public Art’s Curator, told me there was a launch Oct. 16th for the new art installations in 5 bus kiosks near my house, I blurted out “Can I play in one of them? Pleeeeeeze??”

But this morning around 7AM, when my friend asked me why I was doing it, I thought …  “Hmmm … why AM I doing this?”

Well, 5 hours later.  I know the answer.  Hundreds of answers, in every one of the smiles and waves I got from drivers, pedestrians, policemen, bike riders, bus riders, neighbors, strangers – and even dogs.  Each one, reason enough for all the years of collaborating on the developing this instrument, practicing ’til my fingers blistered, and inventing the harness that let’s me wear like it’s part of my body.

Here are just five of those reasons:

1. Bus Drivers

2. Neighbors

3. The glory of singing out loud outside

4. PediCab driver, Jay 

5. Because I CAN!

3 weeks ago, I wouldn’t have been able to power my amp, but cycle-enthusiast Dave Enos set me up with a portable battery 3 weeks ago when he and I rode the 12-mile Minute-man bike-path on the #HarpBike. Read about that HERE.

This morning I had a niggling thought, tickling my brain.  It really had to do with how my friend asked the question about why I was doing this.  I wondered if maybe it was an exercise in undervaluing myself as a performer.

What I discovered was that what I’d undervalued was the bus shelter — as a place of joyous creative connection.

How about you? What was the last place you didn’t expect to experience art … and were?