Even the Crumbs Were Good
Referencing other blog posts of my own when writing a new post is cheating. I don’t ever do it. I think it is short-cutting the story. Lazy writing. Copping out.
And now, I’m going to tell you, if you’re somewhat new around here, you might want to head over to this post before continuing. The following paragraphs will make more sense for you. Heck, if you already read it the first time, go back and read it again to laugh at my starstruck Yo-Yo Ma self.
I don’t often tout how smart my dear MTM is. He possesses a quiet intelligence and strength that leave me breathless. Of all the people on Earth, I admire him above all others. (And, I don’t say that because he took me to see Yo-Yo Ma.)
For the past year or so, MTM has been working on the biggest development project in our city – the $142 million renovation of the Gaillard Municipal Auditorium, a performance space and exhibit hall in woeful need of refurbishment. I don’t want to see anything there because I know – KNOW – I will have to go to the bathroom during the course of the three hour visit. With no center aisle and about ten potties for the ladies, that spells DOOM for my careful coiffure. (I once paid to see Yo-Yo Ma there, and my eyeballs were floating in their sockets by the time I stumbled into my bathroom at home. It was faster than waiting in the line at the Gaillard.)
Much of the design team for the Charleston project worked on the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, Tennessee. The team meetings have transferred to Nashville in preparation for groundbreaking. That’s why MTM was there last week. I tagged along because my schedule permitted, and the Southwest flight was cheap. (And, because I saw that Yo-Yo Ma was going to open the Nashville Symphony‘s season the day we were supposed to leave. I thought being in the same place at the same time would act like the crumbs of his bread from lunch that day. If you did not follow the instructions to read the post referenced above, now might be a good time to jump back, because you’re surely lost by this point.)
MTM is my hero. Not because it was his vision for merging the component parts of the Gaillard Project into something that could happen. Not because he somehow managed to get tickets to a members’ only Yo-Yo Ma concert. Really. I would still love and revere him if he hadn’t made that romantic gesture so I could gawk at another man. A man whose lunch debris I almost ate. A man who made the symphony space levitate when he played the prelude from Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1. A man who underscored for my dear husband the exquisite reason for his effort to make our project a soaring, singing reality.
Glad you had such a great time in Nashville, as evidenced by the wonderful photos of food, light and places. I am looking forward to the time when Yo-Yo Ma will be playing in the completely refurbished Gaillard, that will be a real treat.
In the meantime, where are the photos of you meeting Tim and Faith, I just KNOW that you had to have made arrangements to meet them.
No Tim and Faith. I haven’t even been to a Honkeytonk in Nashville. I have been to three classical symphony concerts there, not usually what one says about it. I still haven’t trekked out to see the Parthenon or the Hillbilly P0rn statue. I especially have not visited the country music hall of fame. (I know this is blasphemous, but country is a genre I do not enjoy. And, that could be a story on the blog, so thank you for teasing it out.)
I went to the Art Expo this weekend and talked to a rep there about the Gaillard, and he mentioned MTM. The project sounds exciting, but I did want to bring up the rest rooms.
Now I feel that the issue will be addressed.
I would so like to see Yo-Yo Ma in concert someday.
Believe me, Vera. At every stage of the project, I have harped about the bathrooms. They are doing all this great stuff with the space to make it more comfortable, accessible and attractive, not to mention acoustically delightful, and all I care about are the number and location of the toilets. I feel so unsupportive.
Rest rooms are not an unimportant issue. I have actually missed parts of performances because I left early to beat what I knew would be a long bathroom line.
If I knew I could relax and watch the performance up to the intermission, that would be good for me and the performers no matter how lovely the venue turns out to be.
Keep pressing.
MTM told me this morning that he is counting the number of toilets so that I can report back to you, Vera.
Well, to assuage all fears, I can tell you and your Dear Readers that the new and improved Gaillard will have 35 Female fixtures, 26 Male fixtures, plus 3 Family lavatories. (currently it has 16 Female and 16 Male fixtures…well, the fixtures are not actually gendered, but they are designated for a particular gender’s use). And remember, the facility currently seats over 2700 and the new configuration will be 1800 seats. Or, put another way, we will be going from 1 fixture for every 85 seats, to 1 fixture for every 28 seats, or tripling the number of fixtures/seat. The only way to improve that would be to change every seat into a fixture, which would certainly detract from the performance experience!
I can’t guarantee there won’t still be a line, but then we need to provide opportunities for gossiping, too.
I am so glad to know that my ’10 potties’ comment was not too much of an understatement………
Awesome! Thanks, MTM.
MTM, changing every seat into a fixture might detract from the performance experience for some, but then again, one would never be forced to miss portions of a performance due to call of nature.
I might have to miss all of a performance due to the calls of nature around me, however………
I truly understand your adoration of Yo Yo Ma. When I first saw him in the early days of Spoleto Festival USA, I too, was smitten. His playing is a gift.
Delighted that MTM gave you such a wonderful gift. While I’m sure he enjoyed hearing Ma play, I bet he enjoyed seeing you transported by the music even more! Because, giving pleasure (minds out of the gutter people) to one’s life-love and getting to witness their delight is one of the true “Too much is just enough” questions.
I agree (in or out of the gutter).
Sometimes, I only wish I could think of something to give him. I mean, I do tag along when he wants to visit architectural meccas, and I try not to complain too much. Actually, I enjoy watching him enjoy himself, and I often learn a few things.
Oh this makes me even more sad that we couldn’t meet up. I was stuck with a heap of nieces and nephews and pets as my sister set up for birthday parties!
We will be back in November, Tori. It will be a quicker trip, though, and I know you’re not in Nashville proper. Still, I will let you know when it gets closer.
MTM – I do think you should give a little more consideration to the seats-to-toilets idea. It could make the most boring performance a little more interesting. I can’t remember who it was but a royal member had a toilet in their box (in the open) so they would never miss any of the performance. Surely, you or Andra recall who that was….Louis XVI? Catherine the Great?
Several of the most notable royals did things like this. After all, the royal refuse did not stink, and all that……..
It’s refreshing to read a woman write about her admiration for her DH. You two make a perfect couple. So glad you got such a romantic and thoughtful surprise!
I must balance out the posts about the persnickety architect somehow. Wink.