Steven Tyler Photo
by Austin W. Petersen
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So I play guitar and sing oldies on the uptown N/R/Q/W line at 42nd st. every now and then.
Today I was playing "The Lion Sleeps tonight" and having a great time with a crowd of people singing along (and depositing a few dollars :) thanks! )
I'm standing there and a random crazy walk right in front of me and just smiles this big smile. I smile right back at him and just sing my heart out. Then he reached down to the bottom of a bag he was holding and I start to feel a little anxious, I really don't wanna get my ass capped while performing in a subway, my midwestern farmer father would be all "I told you so, mister " I wanna be an actor and move to NYC and not be a farmer too" at my funeral.
I was relieved to see he was pulling out just a framed photo. A closer look (while not missing a beat on the song) revealed a grimy photograph of Steven Tyler and this guy smiling back at me. Apparently this crazy homeless guy had a real life once and hung out with the lead singer from Aerosmith. I just smiled back and right in between the chorus and the next verse I said "thats great man".
The guy looked really relieved like I had just paid off his entire debt or cured his bowel cancer or whatever. With tears of happiness coming down his cheeks he put his photo back and walked away. All of the old ladies on the platform listening to me pulled out their wallets and dropped a few more bills into my guitar case. It pays to be nice sometimes.
Check me out if you're in the 42nd subway station sometime!
Austin
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