The Singer

A few days ago, I watched a swarthy Italian man singing like a gondolier in the middle of a crowded street in Richmond. He had a beautiful singing voice, and he sang some sort of Baritone Italian song, no doubt about rowing your little Gondola around Venice. Or Mussolini. Because those are the only two things Italians sing about, right?


Of course, he was singing this song in the middle of the day. He sang while crossing the street, while window-shopping, and while waiting for his bus.

And the funniest thing?

Not a single person said a thing. Nobody laughed and pointed. No one leaned over and whispered to a companion. Everyone just carried on, as if they were oblivious to the fact that there was a guy singing at the top of his lungs walking on by.

I can't tell if this is a good thing, or a bad thing. But I think it can be filed under the "Richmond is a strange city" category.