Maybe it's this way in every district office, but we have some constituents who see us as more than just their advocates with the federal government. They want to be our friends, and they stop by with small gifts or call periodically for nothing more than conversation.
One of these friends of the office is an elderly gentleman named Jim. He comes in every now and then to talk with the staffers, and on more than one occasion, to sing a selection of old songs to anyone who would like to listen. They tend to be songs that were popular back when he would have been young. When I first met him and he said he wanted to "sing some music" for us, it was pretty awkward I didn't know who this self-styled vocalist was, but it soon became clear that the staffers did.
If he had a good singing voice when he was young, it's aged along with him, but in his mind it still must sound amazing. I can't fault him for his sincerity though. It clearly makes him happy, and his unscheduled performances in the front lobby of the office certainly add plenty of variety to a busy (or a slow) day.
He has expanded his repertoire to include visual art. When he heard that the staffer he wanted to sing for was on a conference call and not available, he brought out his sketchbook and said "I''m going to sketch her from memory, okay?" He then did so, and in many ways, his pencil drawings are like his singing. It's completely sincere, and he even titles and signs his work. Eventually he either leaves or his wife comes to retrieve him, but he always makes us smile.
I can relate... unfortunately. Recently my girlfriend has rediscovered Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday album. Although I would never voluntarily listen to an entire Nicki Minaj album, even if just a song every couple of days, I can't fault sincerity and people doing what makes them happy.
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