On occasion, from time to time, early in the morning, I have heard the lone voice of a bagpipe from my window. This is peculiar enough, but what is even more perplexing has been that it frequently happens early on a weekday. This means I had to discount many theories - festivals, funerals, or other functions. It has occurred to me that someone uses the park space as a good location to practice - playing bagpipes at home would not be looked at favorably by significant others or neighbors in an apartment building.
Of course the simplest solution to satisfy my curiosity would have been to dress quickly, leave the house and chase down the sound. But the times I have heard the bagpipes being played have been rather inauspicious.
Yesterday, Wednesday at 8:25 AM, on a beautiful sunny morning, I believe I encountered my mystery man taking a nap.
I do not know where you live, but seeing a man fully clad in Scottish Highland dress at 8:25 AM, snoozing on a park bench, is somewhat startling. I am not sure why a man needs to dress in such a way so early in the morning if he is practicing and not performing, but I am sure there are things about this man's musical practice I do not know. Of course I admit that this search for absolute reason is rather parental. There are many things that people do which are not necessary, particularly in this city - being tattooed, eating at midnight and taking photographs of someone napping on a New York City park bench in Scottish Highland dress early in the morning.
People come to New York City for many reasons - opportunity to make money, pursue a creative interest or just to be themselves in any way they want. And the beauty of it is that you can do it here without hardly turning an eye, except, perhaps, by that of a photographer carrying a camera at 8:25 AM :)
Photo Note: The oval shaped article on the man's lap is a sporran, a pouch that functions as a pocket when wearing the pocketless Scottish kilt.
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16 comments:
The guy in the background is of some concern also.
Maybe he had an event to perform at later in the morning; funeral, wedding, etc.
When I was a kid there was a guy that would walk the neighborhood real early in the morning playing bagpipes. I finally hunted him down and he too was full dressed....kilt, sporran and all. Wow....maybe this is the dame guy! From Georgia to New York....it could happen!
P.S. Even though this is my first comment, I ALWAYS read your blog and LOVE it! Wish I was in New York!
Is this guy a guy or a gal. His legs look like a girl's or his knees do.
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"O hour" scottish band in a HS perhaps???
People like this piping fellow [and their fellow New Yorkers' acceptance of them] are one of the things that make New York the wonderfully varied place it is. Well told, Brian.
Doug, In NYC that guy in the background is called wallpaper.
Napping must be norm in a park at 8:25 am. Well, at least the Scottish Kilt guy will be ready for any performance demanded of him when he wakes. I love the sound of bagpipes. I wouldn't mind being roused by their sounds early in the morning, at all. Hope all is well.
Sorry I haven't made it by sooner. I got behind on my commenting.
Seriously female looking knees! He must be exhausted from his previous performance, I feel like handing him a pillow...
Very intriguing! I hope you catch him awake one of these days so you can talk to him and find out his story.
hello... hapi blogging... have a nice day! just visiting here....
You may want to call 9-1-1. They both look like they need help.
If he is wearing a kilt he may have been at a formal event, and maybe it was a good all-nighter that he hasn't gone home from yet :)
Great story, but I don't see any bagpipes in the photo . . . are they just not there, or did he not have any?
Doug - I did notice that man in the back.
Hilda - I hope to speak to him in the future.
Naomid - interesting theory.
b squared - I laughed out loud reading your comment.
glenwoodnyc - the bagpipe is in the bag next to him on the bench.
completely awesome blog!
especially guy in the background. Indeed tthis is a startling sight.
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