Easter day. Chat at the breakfast table with an older couple, in the publishing business, that drove from Connecticut to meet their son-in-law: their daughter, long-time resident of Boston, just got married! Had dinner at the same place last night…
Pascal mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, with the cardinal himself! (Cardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley – Archbishop of Boston by virtue of John Paul II in 2003; Cardinal by virtue of Benedict XVI in 2006, one of the successors to illustrious Richard Cardinal Cushing that served during the Kennedys era…). The church happens to be in the neighborhood. Reminded of all the pageantry that goes with catholic liturgy, of which the burning incent (“l’encensoir”), and its smell, is most vivid in my mind!... Cardinal Seán’s sermon, about renewal in Christ…
Light lunch at Le Petit Robert, nearby, on Columbus. Great omelets; lousy wine!
Felt we needed to do the “Freedom Trail” – the historical part of any visit to Boston, the cradle of the American Revolution. Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere, and the rest… Not particularly interested today; so not particularly interesting… Way too many people, and too commercial, along the “trail”! The right weather though, except for a few grains of rain toward the end of the afternoon. Faneuil Hall below:
Dinner at Sorellina, Italian, on the recommendation of a diner at Hamersley’s the night before. Near Copley Place. 10 minute walk from the B&B. Very sophisticated and slick décor – one large diner area. Cynthia has the Insalata and the scallops with white asparagus and some truffle. She is happy with her Prosecco Extra Brut (Fantinel, Friuli, Italy). Very light for me: Romaine and half a portion of pasta – garganelli with succulent pioppini mushrooms, and a glass of a very smooth chardonnay (Nozzole `Le Bruniche` Chardonnay, Tuscany, 2008). Light rain coming out; walked home nonetheless.
Monday morning, Cynthia is returning to Toronto early in the day. I am staying for the conference. Early breakfast at “Charlie’s” across the road on Columbus; opens at 6am. Happens to be THE breakfast experience to have in Boston. An institution around here: this typical American diner has been around since 1927. Pictures on the wall; Al Gore –kid in arms – campaigning with Senator (Ted) Kennedy… Small place – “No parking after eating!” – very generous ham and cheese omelet for me, New England blueberry bread for Cynthia. All cash, no credit card. (PlayBook tablet frozen – no photos, if it had not been for Cy’s camera!...)
Took the morning to visit the JFK Library & Museum, a bit off the beaten track, by Dorchester Bay. The highlights of his career. His early life – how politics was not to be his “bag”; his decision to go into politics; his loss to be VP candidate in 1956; the 1960 campaign TV debates with Nixon – how TV gave him the edge; his inaugural speech (…”don’t ask…, but ask…”); “Camelot”; the race to the moon; his Berlin speech (“Let them come to Berlin!” addressing those who believed Communism was the answer, and his famous “Ish bin ein Berliner”)…and then the 22th of November, 1963… The rhetoric was inspiring, up-lifting…it was so for a whole generation – mine. That is why we – same generation – may be so disillusioned by politics nowadays… I wonder if the flame I saw in 1964 on his tomb in Arlington cemetery is still burning…
Off to the conference – “Rethink Music” – for the rest of my stay in Boston…
