To the Pacific

Approaching the Los Angeles area the traffic gets thicker and the roads ever wider. It is a maze of roads all packed with vehicles day and night. Eric's Birthday Bash took place at the 'Arbeter Ring', or Workman's Circle, where he works. It is a venerable institution that was originally founded to help Jewish immigrants find their way in America but it has now lost its purpose. There was great (vegetarian) food and a Klezmer dance band -- a lovely party. Eric had asked me to write a piece for him in commemoration of his 65th birthday and I obliged him with a piano piece. I played it at the end of the program and was genuinely surprised at the warm reception it got from those present. Ironically, Eric is the person who got me composing in the first place. What better present could I have given him?