I’m working on a paper today, which is not my first choice with the weather warming up and the sun shining. But time is going to get away from me if I don’t start hacking away at the research. In the background, I have Pandora cranking out an unlikely mix of music. (I have 14 saved “stations” from classical to jazz to Christian to harp, currently set to “Quickmix” – the most random “random” playlist ever!)

I just heard a series of Chopin Preludes played by Artur Rubenstein. My mind flashed back to junior high when we went to hear him play at a concert in our hometown. My piano teacher was one of the hostesses for a reception for him afterwards. I don’t remember much about the concert, other than it was brilliant. What I remember is shaking his hand at the reception. My piano hands, relatively strong for my age, were completely engulfed in the massive muscle and thickness of his. With a polite bow, he released my hand to greet the next guest.

I can hear recordings of his music all the time. But I will never be able to recapture the impression of that one handshake.

Deb