And what a nice young man!  It doesn’t take much to make an old woman happy.  I wanted to get some base-line pictures of my hips and have an orthopedist take a look at them.  One of the things on my to-do list as I turn seventy.  And, if I ever need an orthopedist, I want to be an “established patient.”  It can take forever around here to get in to see an orthopedist if you aren’t already on his patient list.  So, I had the x-rays taken this morning and met with the doctor.  I liked him right away, and that was before he paid me just about the nicest compliment I have ever received.  He and I were standing front of the computer monitor studying my x-rays. He pointed to the socket and said, “Those are just about the most beautiful hips I have ever seen.”  I burst out laughing and said,”No one has ever said anything nice about my hips before.  And without missing a beat he said, “Well, some poor fool definitely missed his opportunity.”

But seriously folks, it is good to know I have good-looking  bones and joints.

And it’s good to know how the one-way streets work in this town!

Got out of the orthopedist’s just in time to dash back to the Hallie Ford to hear my friend and neighbor, the glass artist Janet Neuburg, a docent there, lead a gallery tour and talk, again on the Izquierdo works.

A piece of Janet’s Glass

I loved learning more about Izquierdo.

But even more, I loved that I knew a number of people in the group, from lots of different places — the neighborhood, The Courthouse, Chemawa, my literary discussion group, church, my lunch bunch.  It takes a long time to feel connected in a community.  I have lived here now for over sixteen years.  I feel connected.  It’s a really good feeling. Right up there with being told you have beautiful bones.

What a nice day!  There was no one on my list today who was counting on me to show up anyplace or do anything, so I just made it up as I went along.

Last night, I had attended a fascinating presentation in a large, packed lecture hall at Willamette by the brilliant, droll and unpretentious art historian Roger Hull heralding the Manuel Izquierdo exhibit at the Hallie Ford Museum.  I think I audited every class Professor Hull taught after I moved to Salem and before he retired.   And in 2005, I spent a month in Florence under the guidance of him and his wife, the artist Bonnie Hull, and literature professor, my friend, the late Adele Birnbaum.  What an amazing adventure!

Since his retirement, Professor Hull has become the leading authority on the Spanish/Northwest sculptor, Manuel Izquierdo.

And was instrumental in bringing the show to the Hallie.

Last night was also the first opportunity to see Dr. Hull’s beautiful book, Manuel Izquierdo, Myth, Nature, and Renewal.

I had received an invitation to attend the opening of the show and the unveiling of the book immediately following the lecture, but I am not really comfortable in large, crowded gatherings with lots of noisy conversations and people balancing wine and hors d’oeuvres.  So, I just decided I would go back to the Hallie Ford this morning and have it all to myself.

But first, out in the garden with the dogs to find the handsome man’s birdbath frozen solid.

And one valiant rose in bloom, ironically named “Cinco de Mayo.”

Most unexpectedly, I was not able to park right in front of the Hallie, or anywhere nearby, and I could see why across at the capitol mall.  As is common on Saturday, a demonstration was taking place there.  I walked in that direction until I could see that many of the participants were toting big guns and carrying flags saying things like “Don’t Tread on Me.”  Ah, well. I was afraid if I joined them I would be tempted to tell them that while I certainly believe in the Second Amendment I just think that perhaps they might be interpreting it too broadly.  I wasn’t looking for trouble, especially with a lot of angry looking men carrying big guns.  And, then too, I didn’t think I might pick up a cute guy there either.

So I turned back toward the Hallie, walking by the beaver family whose water source was iced over too.

Here’s a view of the Hallie seen through one of my favorite trees.

Inside, I was greeted by my friend the artist Bonnie Schulte who is on staff there.  Here she is next to Izquierdo’s “Antelope Flower.”

I wasn’t the least surprised when Bonnie confided that she and the sculptor had been more than casual friends for a time in the Nineties.  In fact, I learned that he had spent time with her in the cabin on the hill where I lived when I first came to Salem and where Bonnie had lived before I did.

I can only take in so much at one time, so I spent an hour there and will go back many times before the show ends.