Grace Community Christian Church

 

Archived Things Above

Staten Island Ferry (9/1/03)

His name was Daryl, & although he said he didn't mean it to sound like an insult or a put down, that's how it came across.

We were on the Staten Island Ferry, returning to Manhattan. I suppose he approached us because we were such a romantic looking couple. Turns out, this is how he makes his living: strumming his weathered guitar & singing love ballads to floating tourists all day long. Of course, everyone on our side of the boat turned to watch the impromptu serenade. It was a touching public moment in a city that has prided itself on aloofness.

I can't remember the first song he crooned to us - I was probably too lost in my beloved's gaze. But his finale was a rousing "Seventeen" by the Beatles. Somehow I escaped Kim's hypnotic hold, & found my vocal cords. Now it was two of us crooning on the Staten Island Ferry.

"Well I was just seventeen, if you know what I mean,when I fell in love with her. Now I'll never dance with another girl, I saw her standing there."

Kim blushed. My real seventeen year daughter & boy friend somehow kept from jumping overboard. And clearly Daryl was moved, deeply moved. I was flushed with anticipation at discovering a talent I never knew I possessed. I mean, we were good! Too bad I was the only one who picked up on that.

"Now, I don't want you to take this the wrong way, man, but . . ." (Have you noticed that anytime someone starts a critique with those words, what they're really saying is, "I'm about to rip you to shreds, but please don't think I'm enjoying it!") Right.

I'm a bit slow by times, & may have jumped a mite ahead, just a tad. "How can I let him down gently? How am I gonna tell this guy I can't be his partner?" The big names flashed through my mind: Martin & Lewis. Seals & Crofts. Simon & Garfunkel. Brooks & Dunn. Dewey & Daryl. It had such a nice ring to it, too. Poor guy.

He finished his thought. ". . . but what you lack in talent, you more than make up for with passion & energy. Even Mick Jagger, Tom Petty, & Bob Dylan can't sing." Can't sing? Did he say, Can't sing??

I overcame my disappointment just long enough to realize that he had uttered some really potent words. It's not what you got, but how you use what you got. Wow. I may not be the best preacher, or even a good preacher, but if I'm excited about what I do, well, maybe there's still hope . . . And if there's hope for me, then there's hope for lots of other people, too!

I slipped him a few bucks anyway, but the divorce was final. We'll never cut an album, or tour, or announce the winners on the MTV Music Awards. He'll continue to sing, because that's what he does well. Don't be surprised if one day you see him yucking it up with David Letterman, reflecting back on his poverty stricken, pre-star days of hustling on the Staten Island Ferry.


Jim Dewar --