On the Express

Today, when I was on the express with my son, two young men got on and played a nice arrangement on congo drums. When they were done, they asked for money, sure, but they also asked for recognition. "We take any kind of support," one said, "Words, smiles...just don't ignore us." He was right, this man, to ask for recognition, because, let's face it, it's harder to give eye contact than a dollar. "Please take the money and go," I sometimes say to myself, and then mostly I force myself to look at the person I'm giving money to -- but I don't always succeed. Sometimes it's too hard to look, or too easy to look away. The drum-man today reminded me that recognition is a simple act and one I need to try to offer all the time. Because local or express, looking away just won't do.