I always expected, when I retired, that I would have the time to do all the things I wanted to do. I always wanted to write. A number of things had piqued my interest. The first was the outdoor art in NYC.
Of course, that is where I would have to start, and then move uptown.
To Sylvette, and then end at Union Square Park.
With commentary about the statues, the artist, who paid for them and why.
Another book was going to be, and maybe will still be, 'The Hand Book', a book all about hands. I studied and worked in hand therapy for a number of years.
There is the saying that the eyes are the window to the soul. I believe the hands are a window to the life.
My Mother's hands at age 95.
But where is the time:
Two weeks ago I went to my family doctor for my yearly checkup. I now have M.D. appointments through April, to examine my heart, eyes, skin and other, to remain unnamed, places.
I get The New Yorker delivered and try to read some of it each week. This week's issue has an article by Jonathan Franzen on Edith Wharton, in celebration of what would have been her 150th Birthday.
I get Film Forum, the quarterly from Lincoln Center.
I dropped The Economist, too conservative, although wonderful comprehensive reporting.
I get the weekend NY Times delivered.
Sunday had a great article on Quanitta Underwood, a U.S. Olympic Boxing hopeful.
This summer's Olympics will for the first time feature women's boxing and Miss Underwood is the U.S.'s best hope for a medal. The article, by Barry Bearak, begins: "Two sisters shared a bed, and each night, with their hearts hammering, they would listen for the turn of the knob and the push of the door. Quanitta was 10 her sister Hazzauna, 12. The walls of their house were thin and the girls could hear every move their father made. Hear him sit up, hear him get out of bed, hear him walk their way." You can read the whole article at nytimes.com. It's titled 'The Living Nightmare' and it is about her battle with incest, and her survival.
I also have my books to read. I'm working my way, slowly, through 'The Renaissance Portrait'. Yeah, I know it has pictures but it's still 420 pages and a typically large 'Art Book'. I'm also, slowly working my way through 'On The Nature Of Things' by Lucretius. OK, I know it's only 175 pages but c'mon it's poetry and philosophy. I blame the NY Times Book Review. Someone wrote a review of a new translation and in the essay they mentioned all the many artists and scientists who list it as an important part of their education. I had a great teacher in the classics but we never did Lucretius. Although, we did read Catullus. The school probably thought we had already read Henry Miller and Lady Chatterley's Lover so what harm could Catullus do, but lets not give them a poem whose first book is a condemnation of Religion.
Then there is one of my favorite things: Music.
The Metropolitan Room on West 22
I went there Sunday Night. The room is small, similar in some ways to the Blue Note. The show was Fred Barton's 'Presents', a once a month show. He is an arranger, songwriter and performer and once a month he brings his 9 piece orchestra and some great talent to perform. The best were Kevin Early whose Broadway credits are 'Thoroughly Modern Millie' and 'Les Miserables', Karen Murphy, broadway credits: 'A little night music', '9 to 5', and NYC Opera's 'Most Happy Fella' and Anita Gillette, Broadway credits: 'Gypsy', 'Guys and Dolls', 'Cabaret', and 'Brighton Beach Memoirs', but she is probably best known as a frequent quest on TV game shows like 'What's My Line'. I'm going back next month. $20 and 2 drink minimum, and that's right there's no maximum.
