the idea: sell Devil’s Trap Sticks at Harvard Station

For most people who live in a city it’s practically second nature to walk past a street performer.  Whoever they are, whatever they’re doing.

Today I was getting off the T in Harvard to go teach an off-site art class and I passed a someone doing something I had never seen inside the city: playing with Devil’s Trap Sticks.  In case you don’t know what these are they’re made of three sticks coated in rubber.  You hold one in each hand and toss the third (which often has fancy tassels on each end) in between the two.

People get very fancy with these and I have to admit that I was sucked in during one of my many years at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival and bought myself a set.  For the most part they sit on top of my book case gathering dust but every once in a while I get them down and go outside and play around.  My stepbrother in particular was very found of playing around with them and tossing them ever higher.

But back to today.  I passed by the guy who was using the Devil’s Trap Sticks and was halfway down the platform before I stopped and turned around.  I had my first awkward blogger moment when I went back to ask him if I could take a picture for my blog.  He graciously agreed and I pulled out my phone, the only picture taking device I had, and snapped a couple shots.  In the short conversation we had before and afterward I found out that his name was Forest, he was dog sitting but is actually from somewhere in Maine, and it was only the second day he had been out on the platform.

I’ve had a bussing mind today since this encounter and but you’ll have to check back tomorrow for what ideas I’ve come up with.  I’ll warn you now though, they’re pretty freaking cool.