I stopped in the nearby gallery to thank Chris for an idea he had given me the other week and to ask for a suggestion.

“That was a great idea about getting that photo of Tug McGraw hugging my parents framed, but when I went to look, all I have is the little six by five photo, I can’t find the negative.” 

“That should be good enough,” replied Chris.

“But when I tried it at one of those online sites, it said the quality wasn’t high enough to make a large framed picture.” 

“What did you try?” 

“Well, I used the image that I scanned years ago.” 

“Is it at least 2400 dpi?” 

“I don’t know. Probably not.”

“I like your shirt!!!!” This from a woman who was browsing in the gallery. She had spied the Sondheim t-shirt I was wearing.

“Oh, uh, thanks,” I said. Of course, I wear those shirts in the hopes of getting that kind of reaction, but it’s so rare that I do… 

She had moved on, so I turned back to Chris.

“You think I should scan the photo again?”

“I do,” said Chris. “You really don’t want to get into negatives anyway. If you scan it at 2400 dpi, you’ll be able to blow it up to the side of your house if you like.” 

“Did you ever see Sondheim at any function?” That woman had returned.

“Yes, as a matter of fact I saw him twice. Once was at the 92nd Street Y…”

“Does it have a number? That’s a Hirschfeld drawing, isn’t it?”

“Yes, I think it—”

“Oh, yes, I see the Nina. He always puts Nina in his drawings and then a number to indicate how many Ninas. Did you know that?”

“Yes. I—”

“What’s your favorite show?”

“Well, Sweeney, I guess. That and Sunday in the Park—”

“Interesting.” Pointing to a spot on the shirt. “The Frogs, I never heard of that one. Would you mind if I took a picture of your shirt? My husband will get such a kick of this.” She was already aiming her phone.

“Not at all.” I glanced at Chris; it was all he could do to suppress his laughter. He had been speaking to the woman when I came in, so he knew what she was like. He was clearly enjoying himself.

“I hope you didn’t mind the interruption.” And she was once again moving on.

“Not at all. Always happy to oblige a fellow Sondheim fan.” I’m not sure if she heard me.

Chris, once he regained control of himself, gave me a few more suggestions, and then I moved on as well.