The Bassist on His Day Off by Susan Holland , aka Fellow Traveler

• He was in the elevator at the Opera House the first time I saw him — in his tux with his huge instrument taking up more space than he did. He was hurrying..a bit late, like us. The concert would begin in only a few minutes. This was the guy who a year or so later often sat across from me at the table in the break-room at the Post Office where we both worked as rural mail carriers. I knew him well, a thoughtful man, and very honest, sharing from his intellectual life as we ate our sandwiches. Music was a connection… and he was with a very highly regarded chamber orchestra who regularly played in the city. But I knew he was not a regular tux guy. He sure looked good in that elevator, all scrubbed up and elegant.
• Seriously!

Originally published by Susan Holland at cowbird.com.
The small oil painting titled “Poor Fella”©SGHolland is now in the collection of artist Julia Andriadou, in Athens