Comments

Glad you had a nice trip. Sorry about your Wee Tot...poor thing.

Also,you have an interesting resemblance to Meryl Streep!

As for practicing whilst on vacation in Rome, "I told you so". (Insert smiley face here).

Wait, you didn't want me to bring the violin! Think of the adventure I would have missed out on if I hadn't. You can have the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps and the tourists; give me a foray into the locals' Rome and that's what I like. And a violin-related foray? Loved it! And Anne, isn't that too precious about the street name? (Oh, BTW, the novel excerpt was submitted before I solicited your opinion on it, so no need to feel miffed that it doesn't reflect your most excellent suggestions!) I just loved reading your blog and the pictures you posted are fabulous!! Sorry your son became sick. "Miffed"? I am not "Miffed". I didn't even notice. (Insert second smiley face here). How fun! Great to see some recent pictures of you! Did you actually PLAY any of those instruments?!?!?!

Have a happy and non-rainy Christmas!

I never had anything so spectacular happen to me when I went to a luthier to get a shoulder rest. You and the violins look wonderful. I'm glad you had such a great time, and I hope your son gets well soon. Thanks, Karen, Mendy and Pauline. They are fun pictures, aren’t they? And there was such an air of playfulness about it all; Claude and his assistant were so very kind and helpful and I think they were getting a kick out of my enthusiasm and naïveté. I was soooo thrilled to check out those violin (my husband told me the smile on my face in the pic said it all) and study the label inside the Guadagnini. No, I didn’t ask to play them—guess asking that will be the next move out of my comfort zone. Actually, though, in San Francisco, luthier extraordinaire Roland Feller (turns out Claude Lebet knew him as well—a mutual acquaintance, what a great feeling!) let me play on a JB Vuillaume. I got to go into a private room and all. But that was during an appointment I’d set up, having requested in advance to see/play a Vuillaume. I love this aspect of novel-writing research!

Pauline – my son improved after the day spent resting in the apartment. Adult-style touring (for us that means walk walk walk) is hard on a kid – poor thing! I had the mommy-guilt going on that he threw up partly because his system was so taxed. Bad mommy, to ignore his complaints of not feeling well! (“It’s jet lag, just deal…”) Oh well, it’s all part of the travel game and we plan to travel as a family like this more, so, live and learn. And turn the tough experiences into funny stories.

Oh, and Mendy, would you please send me some RAIN? Honest to God, it’s been sunny for 55 of the past 60 days (okay, so I was in Rome some of those) and I WANT SOME CLOUDY WEATHER. Yes, I know…. careful what you ask for. : )

Terez,

do you know that Guadagnini belonged to Grumiaux?

Antonello - wow! That is so cool! I should have thought to ask at the time. What a beautiful entry, Terez! Your writing is so lyrical! I felt transported to Italy. It must have been a special experience to hold those famous instruments in your hands. I'm jealous! I look forward to reading the excerpt from your novel on the magazine!
Best,
Mayra