Blind and confined to a wheel chair, Mimi is the most positive ancient woman I've ever met -- love her dearly. We talk about Pittsburgh and relatives and she remembers all the people and places mentioned and she makes additions to the conversations. I learned Aunt Sadie's husband had an affair!!!! Aunt Sadie, my grandma's sister, suffered serious post partum depression and thus lived at Dixmont outside of Pittsburgh. Great being with Mark and Mary Jo.
On the way home, we stopped at Beef House, the icon of a restaurant on the Indiana/Illinois line which we adore. They serve these amazing rolls which they distribute frozen in many locations around the State so I picked some up at College Hills Meat Market to take to the UUBN Thanksgiving dinner. Man, are they delicious. Looking forward to making them when the girls are here in late December.
Allen Avner from Champaign, was to come over for Thanksgiving but he developed some health issues so could not make it. Another beloved Avner. His wife Elaine passed away last year. Allen asked us if we would like a crystal vast Hilda and Sammy Swartz presented to them as a wedding present. It came yesterday! It is very heavy -- Atlantis crystal is made in Portugal because of the high quality of lead and silica.
When Neal called last year to announce the Seattle Symphony would be doing the Berlioz Requiem, one of favorite pieces, without hesitation we said "We'll be there!" The Robert Shaw/Atlanta Symphony is the baseline performance but this group was better mostly because the 120 voice chorus was light, fast, and they used dynamics to the fullest. Two antiphonal brass groups were in the first balcony near the front, one on each side, and two were in the back of the first balcony, one on each corner. The tenor for the Sanctus, shown on the program cover was beyond words. With the 10 timpani and an extended orchestra, we were almost blown out of our seats. Never heard so many bravos! We wish Seattle would make a CD!
De Valkyrie at the Lyric Sunday, November 26th. Can't get enough of The Ring. Fabulous performance, had me in tears at the end when Wotan kisses Brunhilda's eyes shut and banishes her to a deep sleep high on a rock for 18 years, however she is protected by a circle of fire. Poor Daad could not make the trip because of awful flu -- but I was able to do the trip by myself and did just fine! I called the Lyric and donated his ticket and they will send us a letter in January so we can count it as a charitable contribution.
