'Bubble Man' Spreads Joy Through Performance on San Francisco Streets
2021-07-13
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1Kurth Reis of San Francisco, California, has been through many hard times in his life.
2Lately, however, he says he just wants to make people happy by making bubbles.
3You can watch him perform his bubble art for hours at a time around the city's streets and in its parks.
4Sometimes he puts out a glass container called a tip jar.
5People who watch his show can drop money into it if they want.
6The 48-year old Reis served in the military as a young man.
7Later in life he was found guilty of a crime and served time in prison.
8That left him with few close human connections.
9Then, in 2018, Reis had a serious motorcycle accident and spent time in a hospital.
10The accident affected him deeply, body and spirit.
11He had several medical operations.
12Reis said he felt like he was "reborn" each time he woke after an operation.
13Following 88 days in the hospital, Reis was released and felt ready to change his ways, he said.
14The bubble performances make him happy.
15"It's peaceful. I mean, I can't really explain it, you know what I mean? Whether I had my tip jar out or not, I just, I can make bubbles. I could make 'em until, you know, until I couldn't make them anymore, it seems like."
16Bo Smokoska recently watched Reis making bubbles in the part of San Francisco called The Embarcadero.
17"He's bringing joy to so many people," he said.
18If the weather is good for bubbles, Reis makes a special mixture that can make bubbles the size of small car.
19The mixture contains mostly water and soap.
20He also adds two other substances that thicken the liquid.
21Then, he is ready to perform.
22Humidity, or the amount of water in the air, is good for bubbles.
23So, he does not perform on very dry days.
24To make his large bubble, he puts a small rope hanging from two long sticks into the bubble mixture.
25As he removes it, he opens his arms wide and the bubbles begin to form.
26Once enough air is inside the bubble he moves his arms back together to set the bubble free.
27Some people feel it looks like a bubble "ballet," a kind of dance.
28Sometimes Reis performs on Alcatrez island near San Francisco.
29The site holds the famous former prison and sees many visitors each year.
30Reis has found as much as $150 in his tip jar after a day of performances there.
31While Reis may seem like a bubble-making expert, he only got started in April 2020.
32His girlfriend, Kelly Sullivan, gave him a bubble-making "gun" that would make many small bubbles at once.
33Reis took the gun and made it even better, so it could make 1,000 bubbles per minute.
34However, that was not enough, so he started trying to make larger bubbles.
35"It's science, but it's also an art. You know? People have told me, I'm like, an artist. Yeah, OK. I'm just a guy who makes bubbles."
36Reis has been able to support himself with donations from crowds that watch him perform.
37But, money is not what stirs him to make bubbles.
38He feels his art is useful in more important ways.
39Not long ago, a woman spoke to Reis after a performance, he said.
40She told him that his bubbles had lifted her spirit when her dad died.
41Reis can see smiles rise from under the face covers worn by those watching him perform.
42Children cheer and clap their hands.
43Reis said such reactions make him feel like an essential worker whose job is to spread joy during the health crisis.
44He seems to have made peace with his past.
45"I don't ever look back," Reis said.
46"I can't save the world. I'm not trying to. Just trying to put a smile on somebody's face by doing some bubbles."
47I'm Caty Weaver.
1Kurth Reis of San Francisco, California, has been through many hard times in his life. 2Lately, however, he says he just wants to make people happy by making bubbles. 3You can watch him perform his bubble art for hours at a time around the city's streets and in its parks. Sometimes he puts out a glass container called a tip jar. People who watch his show can drop money into it if they want. 4The 48-year old Reis served in the military as a young man. Later in life he was found guilty of a crime and served time in prison. That left him with few close human connections. 5Then, in 2018, Reis had a serious motorcycle accident and spent time in a hospital. The accident affected him deeply, body and spirit. 6He had several medical operations. Reis said he felt like he was "reborn" each time he woke after an operation. Following 88 days in the hospital, Reis was released and felt ready to change his ways, he said. 7The bubble performances make him happy. 8"It's peaceful. I mean, I can't really explain it, you know what I mean? Whether I had my tip jar out or not, I just, I can make bubbles. I could make 'em until, you know, until I couldn't make them anymore, it seems like." 9Bo Smokoska recently watched Reis making bubbles in the part of San Francisco called The Embarcadero. 10"He's bringing joy to so many people," he said. 11If the weather is good for bubbles, Reis makes a special mixture that can make bubbles the size of small car. 12The mixture contains mostly water and soap. He also adds two other substances that thicken the liquid. Then, he is ready to perform. 13Humidity, or the amount of water in the air, is good for bubbles. So, he does not perform on very dry days. To make his large bubble, he puts a small rope hanging from two long sticks into the bubble mixture. As he removes it, he opens his arms wide and the bubbles begin to form. Once enough air is inside the bubble he moves his arms back together to set the bubble free. Some people feel it looks like a bubble "ballet," a kind of dance. 14Sometimes Reis performs on Alcatrez island near San Francisco. The site holds the famous former prison and sees many visitors each year. Reis has found as much as $150 in his tip jar after a day of performances there. 15While Reis may seem like a bubble-making expert, he only got started in April 2020. 16His girlfriend, Kelly Sullivan, gave him a bubble-making "gun" that would make many small bubbles at once. Reis took the gun and made it even better, so it could make 1,000 bubbles per minute. However, that was not enough, so he started trying to make larger bubbles. 17"It's science, but it's also an art. You know? People have told me, I'm like, an artist. Yeah, OK. I'm just a guy who makes bubbles." 18Reis has been able to support himself with donations from crowds that watch him perform. But, money is not what stirs him to make bubbles. He feels his art is useful in more important ways. Not long ago, a woman spoke to Reis after a performance, he said. She told him that his bubbles had lifted her spirit when her dad died. 19Reis can see smiles rise from under the face covers worn by those watching him perform. Children cheer and clap their hands. 20Reis said such reactions make him feel like an essential worker whose job is to spread joy during the health crisis. He seems to have made peace with his past. 21"I don't ever look back," Reis said. "I can't save the world. I'm not trying to. Just trying to put a smile on somebody's face by doing some bubbles." 22I'm Caty Weaver. 23Jeffrey Dastin wrote this story for Reuters. Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. 24What would you say in English if you saw one of the large bubbles? Tell us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page. 25__________________________________________________________ 26Words in This Story 27bubble - n. a very light ball of air inside a thin layer of soap 28joy - n. a source or cause of great happiness : something or someone that gives joy to someone 29soap - n. a substance that is used for washing something 30essential - adj. extremely important and necessary