Leon Fleisher, pianist, dead at 92 - Reading "Golden in Death" on Scott's front porch - Poem: My Essentials

Every Thursday my Times Chronicle arrives in my driveway. What a thrill I feel, as I walk outside to pick it up, and free it from its rubber band. Since it takes me an entire week to read it, I decided today, which is Thursday, garbage day, to skim the paper, spread out on my beige berber carpet. 

And you mustn't worry about getting newsprint on the carpet. 

The Upper Moreland Library sent me a notice telling me that my library books were almost due. All could be renewed except one: J D Robb's "Golden in Death."

Should I read it?

Here's how it begins:

Dr. Kent Abner began the day of his death comfortable and content. 

Following the habit of his day off, he kissed his husband of thirty-seven

years off to work, then settled down in his robe with another cup of coffee,

a crossword challenge on his PPC, and Mozart's The Magic Flute on his

entertainment unit.

 I was hooked and decided to try and finish it. Otherwise, I would be fined.

It's a hefty book, best read sitting up, as on Scott's front porch bench, but when I go upstairs, I lay down and put it on my chest.

...

For dinner, I made delicious pea soup and had two bowls. The sound of the peas in the metal colander is quite something. Ping ting ting!

Added whole pecans to give it more protein. In addition to the peas, I added garlic and loads of onions. 

...

GREETING CARDS FOR TODAY

I gathered up my greeting cards like a poker player his hand. Intense thought is required to decide WHO to send it to AND what to write.

I found a wild and rowdy card that was actually fashioned by artist Alexander Calder. That would be for Helene Ryesky. 

Calder is famous for his mobiles.

I use up every bit of space on the card. 

One of my great day trips involved seeing glorious sculptures including Calder.

Also sent neighbor Patrick a card thanking him for his Cowbell Honey.  

 

...

Ethan Iverson mentioned the death of pianist Leon Fleisher at age 92. A child prodigy, he had a surprising life which included the inability to play the piano with his right hand.

Imagine how awful he felt. Nonetheless he used his musical knowledge well and taught students. He was also a protigee of George Szell of The Cleveland Orchestra.

Once I had so many records by Szell. 

Imagine if I kept every single thing I once owned. I'd have to rent a storage unit. 

 

Have I mentioned that CROWS seem to be gone. On Scott's bench I thought I heard them. And had an idea where the murder of crows had gone.

For a short story on Saturday?

Our Beatriz has a cough, so won't be presiding over the group. She hopes it ain't the Covid-19.

Would you mind if I noshed on some pretzels?

You KNOW what an essential worker is in these days of the pandemic. Scott is one and so are postmen. I had to run after Mailman Sean today.

He was wearing earrings!

They look great, I said. A friend of his had gotten them at a shop in Southampton, PA, so he followed suit. 

MY ESSENTIALS

My light-up Bulova clock in my bedroom

Hand towels from Mom in upstairs bathroom

only because they are so damn adorable and

remind me of Mom

Whirring fans wher-ere I sit to cool off my

extremities

Dozens of new fashions from sister Lynn

a lemon yellow beach robe

a sequin-filled blue jazzy dress

A powder blue mask to contain 

droplets from all comers and myself too

Fauci tells us the viruses will never end

but we can live long and healthy lives.    

Baltimore here we come! AVAM - Peabody Conservatory of Music - BAM with Sculpture Garden

The first thing you notice about the American Visionary Art Museum is the astonishing art work outside the building.

Vollis Simpson whirligig! Simpson died last year at age 94 at his family farm in Wilson, NC. A machinist by trade, he somehow got into making moving objects he called 'windmills,' later referred to as 'whirligigs.'

Late in life he became a celebrated artist. People visited him on his farm while he worked and he'd chat with them. There's a whole park in Wilson dedicated to his work.

Dig this goofy looking creature. Dunno the artist.

I climbed up into a tree house and took this shot at other members of our tour, from Cheltenham Township Adult Evening School.

We got to the museum 10 minutes early so explored the grounds until we were let in.

Below is one of a series of murals in the hallway leading into the museum. We were not allowed to take photos inside, tho I did shoot a few, but not nearly enough.

Below is Prometheus, tied to a rock by orders of Zeus, king of the gods. Why? Because Prometheus did a godlike thing: he brought fire to mankind. Look at the vulture picking at his liver.

One of the first mobile phones. By Motorola.

Why NOT ride a giraffe. Only an artist would think of this.

This is either a lifesize man or a guy having a manic-psychotic episode. People lose their inhibitions and often stroll around nekkid. True.

Amish preparing for a meal.

These two sisters, from our bus, had a friend make these gowns. I told Averilla they could be costumes fit for the museum.

Kenny Irwin, Jr., a 49-yo artist who became a Muslim 10 years ago, has an amazing installation. The moment I walked inside I thought I was in The Land of Oz.

But Oz was never as strange as this.... with its Islamic motifs.... and strange alien figures. His ideas come from within. Surreal dreams he has.

I am a fan! I could like him on FB. Hmmm, maybe I will. Scuse me a sec while I check to see what my grandkids are up to.

My daughter/law sez:  Today at the playground, a boy pushed Grace (age 3.5). I asked her what she said to him.
Grace: "I don't like it when you push me. If you push me again, you will live to regret it."



The above photo cannot do justice to the installation. See Kenny's website here.

On the website is an interview with the NY Times. 

All aboard The Magic Bus.

Next stop - and I had no idea we were going here - The Peabody Institute of Music, now part of Johns Hopkins, who relieved the Conservancy from its untenable financial morass.

Every Thursday they have a free noon concert. Our concert hall, one of 3, seats 700. Here's the program. 

Every pianist was Asian. Our tour guide, Debbie, told us Peabody recruits people from Korea and Taiwan.

I particularly enjoyed the contemporary pieces.  I nodded off briefly twice during the program, having awoken at 5:15 am. Everyone on our bus loved the concert, including my seatmate Lisa.

Listen to contemporary Russian composer Nikolai Kapustin here.

 The tour of Peabody. They must remain competitive with other conservancies - New England, Curtis Institute (which is free), Oberlin, and the best-known and most highly acclaimed, Julliard.

 Monica and her daughter Lisa live in Abington in houses right next door to one another. Just like me and Scott live next door to each other.

 Kramer invited us into the Percussion Room. This beautiful wooden instrument looks like a zy, but it really a marimba. Is that correct, Kramer?

Thanks again Kramer for opening this new door. The door cost $30,000 to keep out the loud percussive noises.

 Very attractive elevator buttons. BUT the door closed on me and I lost my group. Fortunately an Asian young man - of course! - was on with me and pressed the correct button so I could reconnect with them.

 The famous Peabody Library.

 It's so beautiful people get married here.

The above was in a glass-covered case. I think those are satyrs driving the coach.

Okay, CTAS (Cheltenham Township Adult School), I'm getting pretty hungry. It's 2 pm already. Take me to the feeder.

Manhattan Clam Chowder with a bite to it. Bread tray I bypassed bc of diabetes.

Look, we're in Baltimore. Why not eat seafood? This was a delicious crab quiche.

Monica had a delicious wrap.

Sorbet for dessert.

Now we're gonna view the Baltimore Sculpture Garden, which was excellent.

I photographed this man cuz I wanted to get a good look at the logo on his cap but you can't see it. It looks like this:  

) (

Any idea what it is?

Balzac by Rodin.

Raise your hand if you know Balzac's first name.

 Probably Calder.

 This is a Horse.

 The Annunciation. Mary looks .... how would you describe it?  Contemplative? Befuddled?

 This is called The Miracle. We were circling it trying to figger out what miracle, but we don't know the full story.

 Joan Miro

Show off!

 Isamu Noguchi

The dude in green is babysitting for Moritz, whose folks are from Germany. The green dude is from Holland.

Alexander Calder, Philadelphian.

This chair is made of rock. My backpack is taking a rest. I bought it on a bus trip to the Grand Canyon of PA.

Large Boxing Hare... see below.  Lisa said her kids would enjoy her photo of the bunny. Cody is 10 and Lucas is 6.

My Sarah is 40 and Dan is 37.

Let's go home, Bill of Starr Coaches.

Nice graffiti on these freight trains.

Last nite I called my neighbor Nancy and left her a message. Please call me if you have a pair of sunglasses I can borrow for my trip.

Fortunately AVAM had sunglasses for $5 apiece, which I bought, along with earrings for $3 and $5. I thought I'd try the wooden tiger earrings.

Magnets of AVAM for Scott and two other people. Mary Ann Moylen, nutritionist, told me to eat these DELICIOUS chocolate-peanut bars which have 10 grams of protein.

Bought this wall-hanging for $25. Do I regret it?

This is a free book and DVD given out near an exhibit of Angels. See Rich Shapero's website. This book got great reviews.

Am sitting here in the living room with the screen door open, spreading cool breezes throughout the room, at 10:43 pm.