2009/05/08 New York
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Arnaud

Polles

On Saturday afternoon I bought I new pair of glasses. I like Alain Mikli a lot, so I went to their shop on Madison Avenue and 77th Street and I picked a pair of frames I liked.
The woman who was selling me the frames was very kind, French, and pregnant.
When she heard my first name she said: “This is a beautiful name. I have to discuss your name with my husband.”

A day later I received an e-mail from this woman with an invitation to come to an “encore presentation” of an exhibition at a gallery. I was surprised but flattered.
The exhibition featured work by the painter Arnaud and the sculptor Polles.
I sent an e-mail back with the question: “Will you be there as well?” She replied: “Yes, I will be there.”

Yesterday afternoon I went to the exhibition.
The pregnant woman offered me a glass of champagne. In the presence of a few other visitors we lingered around for an hour or so. I liked some of the sculptures a lot.
Then I went to the movies.
And I thought about the French writer Henri de Montherlant who wrote that on the next street corner the adventure of your life might be waiting for you.


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13 comments Last_comment
I'm always very jealous of people who tell me about accidental meetings, that is because I have rarely experencied them myself. My only accidental meetings are with drunk people around 4 AM. But if Moses doesn't come to the mountain...
said Victor D. 08/05/2009 23:08 • x
schoene kolumne!
vielleicht wird das baby ja tatsaechlich ein arnon.
... aber die brillen auf dem foto, scheusslich,
naja, zumindest nicht mein geschmack.
haben sie sich so ein extravagantes modell angeschafft?
ich brauche auch eine brille...
said trixi smith 08/05/2009 23:11 • x
About a year ago, in the middle of the night on my way home from a birthdayvisit , a young man ,I have never seen before ,on the other site of the street said: 'Hello.' I answered: 'Hello.' He: 'Where are you going to?' I : 'I am going home.' He: 'Shall we take another drink?' I: 'No thank you.' He: 'Okay.'
Perhaps, or probably that was stupid of me. I think it proves the curiosity of the open mind when you say yes to invitations. I am most of the time a coward.
said flip willemsen 08/05/2009 23:40 • x
Correction: Site must be side. And probably I make other faults. I hope you understand what I mean, in spite of the faults.
said flip willemsen 08/05/2009 23:44 • x
Flip
I'm sure the readers of this site understand you very well.
said Arnon Grunberg 09/05/2009 00:09 • x
Trixi
I'm extravagant myself.
said Arnon Grunberg 09/05/2009 00:10 • x
Although I do not like surprises, I usually attract the adventures I need, for better or for worse.
Nice spectacles though.
said Bernard f 09/05/2009 09:39 • x
Arnon
A sculptor? And you like his work? Now you make me jealous.
said Mieke Dutoit 09/05/2009 16:03 • x
Arnon
How many dioptres do you have, Mr. Grunberg? And did you always wear glasses (from early childhood on)?

I prefer rimless glasses as I don't want people to get confused when I take them off and look like a mole in earnest.
said Juliane B. 09/05/2009 16:30 • x
Juliane
Do you prefer to look like a mole with rimless glasses?
said Oscar Wilde 09/05/2009 18:53 • x
Oscar
If I wear glasses with a flashy frame, my eyes or what others perceive as my eyes would seem bigger than they really are because the frame is included. Taking off the glasses lets them "shrink" all of a sudden leaving me looking like a mole. With rimless glasses my eyes always seem fairly the same size.
said Juliane B. 09/05/2009 20:29 • x
Did de Montherlant say this before or after he got beaten up on the streets of Paris?
said Margot Morgan 09/05/2009 22:16 • x
Juliane
- 6 I believe.
said Arnon Grunberg 10/05/2009 10:41 • x
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