1) Well dahlings, Man plans, and God . . . surprises you with a better idea. I intended to spend the day before Thanksgiving cleaning my house and making a pie. Instead, my old friend and former roommate Anno reached out while I was in New York and suggested we meet at the MFA for lunch. Lunch out vs. scrubbing and cooking? The choice was obvious.
2) This was a great day to sweep out of the house in my winter white overcoat. As I passed the neighbor’s yard en route to the T, however, I was momentarily startled to notice four large, very much alive turkeys quite close to their chain link fence. And then alarmed when one of them noticed me. There was some loud hissing, a couple threatening squawks, and deliberate movement toward me. Remembering that the fence would end soon, leaving nothing between us, I prudently crossed the street.
2a) Returning home, I was pleased to see they were no longer there — or in my yard either.
3) Anno and I met by the Chihuly Pillar of Green Icicles and had lunch in the Great Big Courtyard, the first time we had seen each other in the flesh since autumn of 2019. So much to talk about besides the usual family updates and general catch-up!
4) Afterward we repaired to the second floor galleries. The MFA has been rehung to accommodate the new Center for Netherlandish Art. I quite like what they’ve done with the place, though a few old friends, like Gerome’s L’Eminénce Grise, seem to have been packed off to storage.
The Triumph of the Winter Queen.
4a) This also meant The Triumph of the Winter Queen has been moved to a more central position, which is wonderful.
4b) Anno did take the time to point out Christ in Majesty, a gem in the collection I more often than not pass over. When I was studying for my 50th birthday trip to Venice I learned about Christ Pantocrator, which is in the first church built in Venice (on the island of Torcello), and I do have to wonder if these two interpretations are one and the same. This is one of those occasions where I have to rely on the many people I know who are More Intelligent Than I.
She has absolutely had enough of you.
5) The MFA staff staged a one-day strike last week protesting wages and other aspects of employment there. Touring the museum today made me feel the value these employees bring to the museum, and also some of my experiences 20 years ago working at the Pastel Prison. I very much hope that this will be resolved with justice for the employees.
6) In the evening, I had the opportunity to put Etiquetteer’s words about poise into practice. Long story short, there is a difference between heavy cream and half and half. But rather than panic or get huffy, I held onto my temper, said what I often said to my volunteers — “There’s a solution for everything!” — parked everything in the refrigerator, and went to bed.
6a) Update from Thanksgiving morning: all is well, since I got the last container of heavy cream at Ruggiero’s.
Bacchus, by Elaine Kooning.