We left North Ranch with a stop to get the coach weighed right there on our way out.  This is a very necessary service as it is not easy to get corner weights.  I might be under my gross axle weight rating (GAWR) on one axle and still be overweight on one of the wheel positions.  In order to get the most appropriate tire pressure I need to know the weight on the heaviest wheel and inflate both tires on that axle for the heavier weight.  I know this is a bit arcane for those of you who don’t drive an RV.  Most vehicles have plenty of excess weight capacity, RV generally don’t.  Anyhow we were within our limits and well balanced side to side as I expected since we do this whenever there is a set of scales available.  Thank you to Escapees for adding this service in Livingston and North Ranch so far.

Sixty miles or so after leaving North Ranch we pulled into Apache Palms RV Park in Tempe.  It is crammed into the middle of a commercial block with little to offer in the way of scenery.  It is very well maintained and the people are very nice and the main thing it had to offer is excellent access to the Phoenix Light Rail.  There is  a station right across the street from the entrance.  From there we toured Mill Ave district in the midst of the ASU Campus, we climbed Hayden Butte and we toured the Heard Museum.  Finally on Friday we road the Light Rail to Sky Harbor, the Phoenix Airport, and flew to Rochester.  We had to rent a car as we had given my Prius to Dan, but we didn’t need a hotel room.  1482 was waiting for us.  All we needed to do was bring up the heat, turn on the water and the water heater.

We had two and half days to see just a few people.  Our primary reason for the trip, our first visit to Rochester in February in 12 years, was to attend Zvi Zeitlin’s 45th and last recital in Kilbourn Hall and attend his 90th birthday party.  We were greeted with snow when we got up Saturday morning.  It was the perfect snow, about 4 inches and it stopped by the time we needed to go anyplace.  the rest of the weekend was clear and moderate. We had had lunch with the Perlman’s and Guhdes on Saturday at Max’s Market and dinner with Zeitlin family and friends at Pomodoro on Monroe Ave Saturday night.  As Carol and I prepared to walk to Pomodoro on University Ave it dawned on us that the last time we ate with the Zeitlins was at the Pomodoro on Monroe and maybe we had best make a call or two to be sure where we were going.  Whew.  However several other people were late and dinner did not get underway until an hour after the planned time. 

Sunday started with brunch with our grandson Josh and we had a delightful time with him at Jines and at home.  After dropping him back at his house, we made our second trip to Wegman’s of the weekend.  We figured by the time we left we had been in Wegman’s four times, just normal Rochester living.  Our hunt for Wegman’s  Dark Chocolate Almond Bark at two stores was met with failure.  We did see plenty of Wegman’s Dark Chocolate Almond Bar, but without the “k” it just isn’t what we were searching for, we did try Deb, honestly.

The concert was amazing.  The hall was sold out, people were standing in the entrances and many were turned away.  Zvi was at his peak and it was a pleasure to hear the Shubert pieces he performed.   It is amazing that he was able to stand for the duration of the concert and then, when the presentations were being made at the post concert reception, he refused to sit down for the hour long presentation, I was getting tired.  We should all have his strength and vitality at 90.  The party back at the house was amazing, many of his students and colleagues were there as well as the family and close friends.  It is a privilege to have been included in that group.  We have the close friendship of my late parents with Zvi and Marianne to thank for our present relationship. We have extended the friendship to another generation as we have become close with Stuart and Leora, son-in-law and daughter  in Las Cruces over the years.  

Our flight on Monday wasn’t until 4 so we started with brunch at Jines again, this time with Don Onimous and Lorraine Wolch.  Then we closed up the house for the rest of the winter and put our travel gear in the rental and headed for the Eastman Dorm where Jerome Lowenthal, a close friend and colleague of Zvi’s who teaches at Julliard was giving a piano master class.  I don’t remember ever attending a master class and this was a wonderful experience as he talked four very talented pianists through alternative interpretations of the pieces they had prepared.  His insights were fascinating and the common thread was that it is necessary to understand the life of the composer and his own style before attempting to interpret the works.  

Back in Phoenix we had dinner with the Markusens and Samloffs and then moved the coach to the Elks Lodge in Scottsdale.  We immediately went to the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) where we spent three and a half hours and need to go back for another three or four hours.  It seems that every region in the world is represented with its instruments and field recordings. The admission includes the use of a radio which clearly uses wonderful short range technology.  At each exhibit area there is a video and as you approach the video the sound immediately syncs to it.  At times this is disconcerting as we walked into a new room and had to figure out which exhibit was offering us its audio. We were trying to leave and drifted too close to the US section and we were captivated by Dick Dale, Jake Shimabakura, The King – Elvis is in the building – and an exhibit of Marten Guitars and D’Addario and and and . . . we will go back in the morning – did I mention the exploded Steinway Concert Grand and the room of instruments for visitors to play and the player instruments and and and …

Enough!  You all must come to Phoenix to spend a day at MIM.