Tuesday

February 13, 2001

Clck on image to see Statesman story.

Warning: Don't read on if you are easily offended by opinions about material things.

They don't last. Material things, no matter how monumental try to turn into dust. In the '50's, Palmer Auditorium was a wonderful meeting place for a rather small, upstart capital city. The architects for today's attempt to turn it into Long Center, a wonderful performing arts space, found a shape to emulate but everything is going to be different. It should be wonderful. It is going to cost $89 million. At least.

Michael and Susan Dell gave $10 million dollars. It was in the paper this morning. We were invited to the Headliners Club in a downtown bank to see the artist's renderings and models. And to hear a talk. The idea was to warm us up to donate to it, of course. I had never been in the Headliners Club. I thought it would be nice to say I'd been inside. Outside the lights twinkled around the city. If more daylight was left the forest of cranes would have been more visible.

The rich do this because they care about the community. Because they can spare $10 million. Or 20. Or 5. It doesn't exceed their net worth. And they can look at it with pride but not pay taxes on it or have to maintain it. At least I think that's why they do it.

We looked around the room. There were high-rollers there but not many nobodys like us. But it was a small gathering. The real party was last night, I conclude, when the Dell thing was announced. I think anyway. Still, I'm glad to be invited to this presentation. It's very neat. We wonder on the way out how much money they expect to get from us.

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At home, I read an odd story in a sample fiction 'magazine' (it's more like a newspaper) that arrived in the mail. I eat some chicken livers with honey mustard left over from what FFP cooked for lunch. I eat some chips and hot sauce. I read the newspaper and try to work the New York Times crossword which has several clues that simpy say 'Y'. One answer is 'Spanish for and' and another 'A fork in the Road.' For some reason, I'm reminded that I have no desire to own a swimming pool. We once had a hot tub. The room that we describe as THE room sits where it was. Maintenance is expensive.

I must say, though, that I like my new driveway. It is very utilitarian. The maid's Porshe is parked there when I get home today so that I can pull straight into my spot in the garage. Ah. What pleasure. Much better than a swimming pool.

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I know what you are saying, dear reader, if you've been here a while. Aren't you the one that has bizarre sculptures in the backyard, paintings, a collection of globes, a collection of, for all that's holy, bendable, posable, collectible figures? Who are you to make fun of people with swimming pools or, for that matter, the rich giving millions to the Long Center. Oh, excuse me. You misunderstood. I was only saying, "Isn't it amusing what people find worth their money once they have clean water, a home and something to eat?"

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