Marvin Hamlisch at the Library of Congress

Every once in awhile, we walk through the Library of Congress to attend programs that we have an interest in the subject matter. Lately, we have been using it to stay out of the heat and get in a walk through the underground tunnels that extend to the Capitol Visitor Center. I retired from there six months ago, and one of the departments that I dealt with was responsible for renovations, construction, and space planing. When the Marvin Hamlisch collection was donated to the Library, they had to find a place to showcase the materials. So they ended up in the beautiful Jefferson Building next to the Coolidge Auditorium, where the Gershwin prize winner poster sits. There is a summary of his life, his works, and his awards, and in the cases are Grammy, Oscar, Tony, Emmy, and Pulitzer Prize awards. They look very different close up! Everyone has heard something that Marvin Hamlisch touched. Being an employee, we even had an opportunity to see Gershwin winner concerts for free - a nice perk - including Billy Joel and Wiilie Nelson. So as we passed by the collection, it reminded me of the people I worked with, and the impact this particular individual had on American culture. That's one thing very different about working for the federal government here in DC compared to my thirty years in health care in the Midwest. 

The American Association of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) Exhibit at The Library of Congress

On my afternoon walk in the Madison Building of the Library of Congress I noticed the exhibit in the Performing Arts Reading Room Gallery changed. It was about opera for the last several months. Now it's about ASCAP's one hundred year anniversary. I'm not sure I would have paid much attention before, but I have been lucky enough to go to two ASCAP events at the Library. Every year there is an awards and celebration event  that recognizes songs and songwriters. Paul Williams was the host and members of Congress introduce the inductees from their states, and then the music starts. Employees get to go when the seats need to be filled but the invitations are few and far in between lately! The exhibit shows the history of ASCAP and where it is heading and includes an Oscar for The Pink Panther music, and various artists who are also showcased. It's a great way to spend a few minutes - especially when it's on an afternoon walk and in the building where I work. I don't recall anything like that while working in health care in Milwaukee.