[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

MOST of us who go to the square regularly, know Mark. All the bands know him. The bartenders in the tikki huts know him. Mark is a regular. When he's not around for a whole week at a time, we check with each other to see if any of us have seen him, because we worry for him. Just like the two folks in the cowboy hats and matching outfits who come from the Historic Side and do their couples line dance stuff for a set. The woman gets up when the canned announcement starts, and mimes out the announcement. Now, someone new to the square who doesn't realize she's a regular and LOVES the experience of being there, would say "yeah that's just a drama hog who wants the attention, she's disrupting the announcement that people should listen to, she's making fun of it, she shouldn't be allowed."

But everyone else - and by that I mean EVERYONE else - looks forward to her little performance, because it enhances the announcement and injects a little humor into it. She's not paid to do this, she just took it upon herself to do it one day, people thought it was great, so she's been doing it ever since.

Then there are those "hoppers" - the people with the spring boots that jump around. There's one woman with a pair of hoppers who looks like maybe once upon a time she knew ballet. She spins around with those things, and does kicks - and you have to be VERY careful when you're walking around, first showing up for your evening, if she's got those things on and is dancing. Otherwise you might get a leg in your face. That can be pretty disruptive too. In fact, the group of hoppers is pretty distracting - it takes our attention off the music and puts it on them. How rude and disrespectful!

And yet - they're getting their exercise and having a great time, and nothing they're doing is a barrier to the band continuing to play, and be heard, and to attract others to dancing and enjoying the music.

Mark is no different. He's not screaming, he's shouting, and he's doing it to the beat of the music. Oh and that conductor's baton? It was a gift from one of the other regulars who hangs out there. MOST people who go there, who've experienced Mark at least a few times, eventually realize he's reacting to music that fills him with joy.

For those "Christians" on this forum who might think otherwise, remember your Psalms:

"Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise."

Mark is filled with joy. Maybe you should learn to be joyful with him. It'll do you some good.

Good to see that information posted.