Lasts

Notes from the Berkshires, Day 73

Bernstein Pavilion, 4.46 p.m.

A couple of missed days, due to primarily laziness, but also schedule and lack of internet access. Nothing terribly important to report, other than a lot of “last”s, as the week winds down and I perform certain tasks and activities for a final time.

Monday was our trip to NYC, where we visited Steinway Hall, including the Concert & Artist section in the basement, where virtually every major pianist of the past 100 years has set foot in order to test and select pianos for performances and recordings. Tone of history in a very modest, unassuming location in a basement in midtown Manhattan. We also visited a few other dealerships along “Piano Alley” on 58th St. and also wandered around Central Park for a short time. The weather was truly summer-like, very hot and humid. We left to beat the traffic and were back at the grounds around 6 p.m.

A very nice lunch and visit with my Aunt Dianne yesterday. My dad’s sister, she has been a musician and teacher for most of her career, and is recently retired. Had a good time catching up on the activities of my cousins, whom I haven’t seen in quite a long time.

Finalized plans for the week, including keeping up with a couple of pianos which see significant use between now and Saturday. Otherwise, it’s really a matter of finding things to do, as most of the pianos are idle at this point. Looking forward more and more to being home, but not perhaps to the drive: 14 hours is going to be more of a challenge for me at 48 than it was at, say, 25.