Gershwin Prize Winners

Along one of the hallways of the Library of Congress Jefferson Building is the Coolidge Auditorium. We've been there many times for a variety of events and lectures that are usually free and open to the public. The graceful archways also serve as a great background for the posters that are on display every so many feet. This year the Billy Joel poster was added to the space as the 2014 Gershwin Prize Winner. This was also an artist that we got to see perform for free at Constitution Hall last year. Other winners include Paul Simon, Hal David and Burt Bacharach, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, and Carole King. They are all so very familiar to me, but I didn't get to see any of the others in concert. Every once in a while the employees get a chance to attend events to help fill the seats. I always try to take advantage of those rare opportunities. They don't happen that often, but we are always glad when we go. So when I walk the halls on an afternoon break it's a nice reminder to see the past recipients. I wonder who it will be this year? But more importantly, will I get to go?

The 45RPM Record Collection From the Sixties and Seventies

I usually don't go through my old things at the home I grew up in Florida. I pretty much took everything of significance when I moved away in the 70's. But there is one closet that has not yet been cleaned out and a few items remain. It's like going back through time. My dad's 35 mm camera from the 50's; a telescope; my brother's Lionel train set. My grandson has a hobby collecting vinyl records and I remembered I still had a box of 45's in a red box with a red plastic handle. Unfortunately I never kept the dust jacket covers, but they are all in pretty good shape. They were even "catalogued" and numbered. We listened to them at slumber parties, parties at home, and before going to bed. Most of them are classics and a few I don't really remember why I got them - I couldn't tell which side was the main title! Our larger collection of LP's - which included all the Monkees and Beatles tunes - were just dumped within the last year. So at least I can surprise our grandson with Grandma's old record collection. It certainly will give him an idea about the kind of music we listened to. It feels just like yesterday.