We were pretty poor when I was a kid, so we only went a museum on a few occasions. And those were always with a school group. Mom chaperoned a few times.

Nearly 1982 at the Audobon Zoo in New Orleans I remember bricks with names on them. Donors. “Those were the rich people”, I thought, because who could afford their name on a building element.

So when she asked me about membership at the Anchorage Museum, my first question was about economics. Does it make sense? I mean, the parking cost is $20!

Silly me.

Besides the very thought-provoking conceptual exhibit upstairs, I had the best time in the children’s pavillion. At first I was unsure I even wanted to go in there, but disconnecting from politics and convention was exactly what I needed.