1985-01 (January)

Foote Diary: January 11th, 1985

Breakfast in room at 9; glad not to be eating it alone for the first time in three weeks. Both took baths and prepared for lunch, though we didn’t know where. Called Gremonielle?; no luck. Finally got a reservation at the four seasons for 12:30. Snow coming down thick and heavy during cab ride.

All-out lunch: periwinkles and crisp shrimp for Gwyn; fettuccini with smoked salmon, trout with crabmeat garnish for me; plus, a bottle of La Doucette Pouily Fume, and crème broulet tarts for dessert. $198 with tip! Most expensive lunch we ever ate.

Walked back to Algonquin- now about route to get jackboots for Gwyn at Fiorentina? On park, then to look somewhere for Clarissa at the agency on 59th; no luck. Back at hotel, decided to have dinner in the room- club sandwich for me (my third this trip), spaghettti Caruso and a salad for Gwyn, plus glasses of red and white wine. Watched Shakespeare’s King John on public TV; asleep after midnight.

Foote Diary: January 12th, 1985

New York: leaving day. Got up at 7:30; breakfast in Rose Room shortly after 8. Went back upstairs and packed for flight home. Checked out shortly after 11 and caught cab to LaGuardia, leaving time for unexpected delays before flight time, 1:10 p.m. Plane took off half an hour late; lost another quarter hour to headwinds; landed at 3:20. Gwyn got bags while I started Mercedes, home before 7 and glad to be here. In celebration of homecoming and also to wind up a week of overeating. I fixed corn cakes for dinner- cane syrup for me, jam for Gwyn. Delicious. Bed; asleep before midnight.

Foote Diary: January 13th, 1985

Cereal breakfast, as usual on Sunday followed at noon by a bowl of beef chili soup and crackers.

At 1 o’clock left for Memphis symphony concert: Alan Balter director, Rafael Druian violinist. Program was two Dvorak legends, Berg’s violin concerto and Brahm’s second symphony, preceded by a lecture and demonstration of the Berg concerto, Balter talking, Druian demonstrating. Enjoyed the concert, especially the berg, though the Brahm’s was like slogging through whipped cream after the stark beauty of the atonal concerto. Talked briefly with Joy Wiener (concertmaster) and Druian, at intermission about Shoenberg, Weber and Berg. Joy promised to tackle the Ravel sonata, whose score I lent her fifteen years ago.

In evening, watched “The Jewel in the Crown,” episode 5. Well-performed soap opera. Weighed 159, a gain of four pounds in two weeks.

Foote Diary: January 14th, 1985

Necessary homecoming errands. Bank; closed $157 check Rosch sent for reprieve of “Pillar of Fire,” in a Civil War collection. Aston Silvet; picked up remains? of Paris napkin ring that Booker had mangled. Recorded a cassette, the record I brought back from NY- Berg’s violin and chamber concerto, curious coincidence that I played the former, like, just yesterday; a real treat.

Walked 2 ½ miles; first time in a week, though I certainly did a lot of walking in NY.

Foote Diary: January 15th, 1985

Martin Luther King’s birthday; scantly celebrated hereabouts where he met his death, though the people did pay decent attention to the loss.

Weather bad- cold and rainy. But I had decided not to walk anyhow; had to get ready for tonight’s Wolf River dinner. Got there with wine and brandy but had to make a North Memphis detour to pick up the beer in a negro bar well up 4th street. Book was Dostoevsky’s Idiot; well like by all involved- Fred Deans, Robert Gooch, Mike McDonnel and Billy Reed; Bill Pearson was down with flu, and Bob Johnson was out of town. Mattie Piah served us steak and potatoes, butter bread and salad, ice cream with chocolate sauce. Total Bill, $73.

Home by 10; Gwyn asleep in her glasses.