It was in the early 1970's, not too long after our Long Island Chamber Ensemble performances of "O Lady Moon" and "Saturn," and our discussions about astronomy.
I was on the way back to the East Coast, returning from a recording session in Los Angeles. Alan had told me that he was to be guest artist for a festival of his music at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. I was able to arrange my travel to stop over in Lubbock for several days.
I had booked a room at the same motel where Alan was staying and arrived late in the day. The next morning we emerged from our respective rooms, looked over the second-floor railing, and had a good chuckle over the bigger-than-life signboard announcing the name of the petroleum dealership occupying the plaza below:
"MARS GASOLINE"
