2009/08/12 New York
[ Previous ]   [ Next ]

Mama

Reciprocity

This afternoon I went with my godson to the 92Y where he got a private swimming lesson.
Together with a few mothers and nannies I sat near the pool and watched the children, the swimming teachers and a couple of older ladies swimming or at least trying to swim or teaching other people how to swim.
I’m not sure why exactly but I thought of the song “When you’re good to mama”: “Because the system works/ The system called reciprocity.../ Got a little motto/ Always sees me through/ When you're good to Mama/ Mama's good to you./ There's a lot of favors/ I'm prepared to do/ You do one for Mama/ She'll do one for you.”


[ Add comment ]
26 comments Last_comment
I swim a kilometer three times a week these days.
said Oscar Wilde 12/08/2009 06:08 • x
This song makes me think of Gstaad by Marek van der Jagt.
said Coen van Dam 12/08/2009 12:36 • x
Portfolio
Bony, witty, spirited, feisty, professional personality, polygamous (within limits), picks up frisbees faster than tennis balls, likes to eat klößchen at Christmas, finds table manners overrated, motto: "Manchmal lachen ist gesund, nur lachen ist tödlich" (also applies to flies).
said Johannes 12/08/2009 14:11 (Updated 14:12) • x
Momma really means: be good to her or she will squash your bony white ass. In motherhood, manipulation is key.
said M I 12/08/2009 14:51 • x
Johannes
This is Juliane's portfolio?
said Arnon Grunberg 12/08/2009 16:24 • x
Oscar
Do you swim in a pool?
said Arnon Grunberg 12/08/2009 16:24 • x
That's a lot of mamma
said Dens Powells 12/08/2009 17:00 • x
Arnon
It is. As usual, ohne Gewähr.
said Johannes 12/08/2009 17:11 • x
Juliane
Table manners are of the essence.
Could you show me how you eat spaghetti?
Ask your boyfriend to make a short movie of you and a plate of spaghetti and post it on youtube.
All I ever wanted of my wife that she is able to eat spaghetti as an Italian woman would do.
said Arnon Grunberg 12/08/2009 17:22 • x
Arnon
I do. The water tends to be cold, which I find more bearable in the summertime.
said Oscar Wilde 12/08/2009 17:30 • x
Have you been good to the mama's?
said Hanny Verheezen 12/08/2009 19:42 • x
Arnon
Re: shortcut to happiness. Have you been reading up on intellectual property right?
said Margot Morgan 12/08/2009 20:26 • x
Arnon
If you want a good spaghetti eater, then you schould certainly go for an Italian woman. I know a beautiful one who owns a restaurant... she could teach your future wife! ;)
said Valentina Freschi 12/08/2009 23:50 • x
Valentina
You’re too kind to me. Once I was in love with a woman who cut her spaghetti with a knife. Can you imagine this? She took a knife and she molested her spaghetti. And not once, no she did it over and over. She was slaughtering her spaghetti. Can you imagine this?I told her: “You have to choose, it’s either me or cutting spaghetti.”She chose for cutting her spaghetti. Do I happen to know this beautiful woman who owns a restaurant?
said Arnon Grunberg 13/08/2009 00:39 • x
No Arnon, I can't really imagine it. It's not that difficult to eat spaghetti with your fork! But you can do it, right? Actually, I don't remember if we ate spaghetti togheter and if you was good at it. Could you please post a video on you tube?
I think you may know her...
said Valentina Freschi 13/08/2009 01:03 • x
Valentina
Next time I’ll come to Italy we will eat spaghetti and you are entitled to film it. Could you inform the wonderful lady who owns a restaurant that she is not my number 1 and I know I’m not her number 1, but she is my number 7 and I would love to make her happy next spring. Would May 2010 suit her for a small holiday?
said Arnon Grunberg 13/08/2009 05:55 • x
Arnon
Seven!?! Is she the last one or have you more? What number am I? :)
I'll say it and ask her boyfriend if you want to come too. I come!
said Valentina Freschi 13/08/2009 08:45 • x
Arnon
Seven!?! Is she the last one or have you more? What number am I? :)
I'll say it and ask her boyfriend if you want to come too. I come!
said Valentina Freschi 13/08/2009 08:45 • x
Johannes
I would kindly like to ask not to pretend that you are me.
said Johannes van der Sluis 13/08/2009 08:48 • x
Johannes / Arnon
There we are back at the impostor issue. I would never call this tiny enumeration of characteristics a portfolio let alone hand in something like that.
said Juliane B. 13/08/2009 08:48 • x
Valentina Freschi
My number is 00.
said Mieke Dutoit 13/08/2009 11:42 • x
Spaghetti
In once had a boyfriend who not only cut his spaghetti, but also managed to have most of his face covered with tomato-sauce after finishing his meal. I ended it right then and there. I was 17 at the time. He was 27.

By now, I am already satisfied if a man does not make too much noise when he is chewing his food. When I see him cutting his spaghetti, I just think " this person has not been taught how to eat spaghetti. He simply needs to be taught."

I am not sure if this can be called progress
said batta 13/08/2009 12:57 • x
Mieke Dutoit
Goed zo!
said Valentina Freschi 13/08/2009 13:02 • x
Valentina
You are number 8. Your boyfriend is always welcome and the boyfriend of the lady who owns this Italian restaurant and who is going to give us lessons how to eat spaghetti can bring her boyfriend as well.
Didn't her boyfriend have a wife? Not that I mind. He can bring his wife as well. I say: Inclusiveness is key.
said Arnon Grunberg 13/08/2009 17:03 • x
Arnon
I hoped I was number 6. You know, I'm still your wife! :)
It will be a crowded holiday!
said Valentina Freschi 13/08/2009 17:49 • x
Reciprocity is never for granted.
said Bernard f 13/08/2009 19:40 • x
[ Add comment ]