One Foot In Front Of Another

excellent Pete     

Cheers Brian and Jim thank you for your comments. I will give you some info  about the two buskers life's who I based the character of Joe on.                
Micheal Wahrlich (1955–2023), better known as Mike The Juggler was the busker who juggled tennis balls always with a big smile on his face in the streets of Wellington for about three decades. He was killed in a fire, which occurred in a hostel where he lived . A man was subsequently charged with arson and murder. When Micheal first moved to Wellington, he became a lawnmower for the Wellington City Council in the 1980s, and was later made redundant. In the late 90s, he met a man playing the guitar on the streets , and after seeing him succeed, Micheal decided that he would also entertain the public, by juggling tennis balls on the street. 
The other busker was John D'Estaing Adams aka Kenny died June 8, 2011, aged 64 from a brain tumour.  Many Wellingtonians  have memories of Kenny the Busker, he was a significant part of our city night life at the time, adding to its diversity and vibrancy .  
Born in the USA Texas in 1946, he was an actor, singer and musician, moved to Wellington New Zealand in 1992 to fulfil his commitment to missionary work, and combined his vocation with his love of music by performing in the city most evenings.  He told me that he came to New Zealand thinking he could save people here but soon realized this country was saving him from his personal demons. He looked a little bit like Kenny Rogers that's where he got his name from.
In his repertoire of songs was "The Gambler' by Kenny Rogers many times when passing him on the street there would be a crowd singing "The Gambler" along with him.
Kenny was a divisive character in the city but most Wellingtonians over the age of 40 will have some sort of a memory of him.
I knew Kenny and talked with him frequently on the street.
Many questioned his musical prowess, but one thing was clear, Kenny had charm and charisma and became an icon in his adopted city of Wellington.
He was an entertainer and is sadly missed by many when he left us too early.

During COVID many of my friends and acquaintances passed on and there's been a steady flow since. It doesn't help when you're 74 and most of your friends are older the latest passed just before Christmas. Christina was such a lovely lady, she was in her 90's but it was still a shock and very sad for Ann and myself and her family of course. I'm also thinking about musicians and well known personalities. In life we are in death, our time here is limited so live every day as if it will be your last cos one day it will be, but not for a while yet!