Oktober 2008

Consultation -- Kind of

Do you know this? Something's happening, and you know this would make a good posting, but you can't find any time to put it up, and suddenly it's forgotten?

Well, for one year now, I wanted to blog about this:

TheGuy and I had spent a beautiful afternoon at the bank of Manhattan. (Not the thing with the green papers, the one near the Hudson, I guess it's also called river park). When we were back at his building (but he has moved a few weeks ago, so by the time I'm writing this, it's his former building) and walked to the elevator, a small old woman with huge luggage was talking to the doorman. She was coming back from a trip. It was a warm and sunny day, and TheGuy was bare-chested, showing off his abs and pecs. When the elevator came, the old Lady joined us in the elevator, and they were joking. I realized they know each other. No wonder, he told me she's his next door neighbor.

But somehow she was very familiar to me as well, but I didn't understand why. She was making jokes about TheGuy's bare chest, that this would be too sexy, and that I'm lucky for having this handsome guy. Not exactly what I had expected from an old Lady. I thought old ladies are prude. TheGuy told her I'm from Germany, and then she perfectly spoke German to me. We helped her carry her luggage to her apartment and talked for a little while.

Back at TheGuy's apartment, he asked, "Do you know her?". I said, "Not really, but she is very nice and amazing, and in a weird way she was familiar to me". He said, "Well, she's quite famous. She's Dr. Ruth."

I'm very proud and pleased I met this remarkable and wonderful woman, and had the chance to visit her at home and have a little chat with her.

Literature: The Visit

One of the best-known contemporary literary critic in German TV and radio has exactly the same name as I have (which is not a very common name like Matthew Smith or something like that). He grew up in my town as well. We get confused a lot. If you enter my our name, our city, and "radio" or "media", you'll find his entries pretty much mixed up with mine, since I do a radio show about culture (by the way, the next show is all about books) and publish many articles in our magazine.

It happens quite regularly that I get manuscripts from young authors by mail. "I know you're a very busy man, but could you please read my manuscript and tell me what you think" -- "Uhm, I'm not the one you think I am, we just have the same name." -- "Could you please read it anyway???"

"Are you the real XXX?"-- "I am a real XXX, but probably not the one you're thinking of."

"I stayed up all night because I saw that you'll be on [generic late night show], but it wasn't really you..."

To live up to expectations, I want to write about an excellent book by the Swiss author Friedrich Dürrenmatt: "Der Besuch der alten Dame" In English: The Visit. (see article in Wikipedia)

I had to read it in school when I was about 15 years old. I read the entire book in one evening, because I couldn't stop. It deals with the themes of punishment, greed, revenge, and moral strength in a very interesting and yet entertaining way.

I've almost forgotten how brilliant this book is. But currently I'm sick, I cought a flu, and by pure accident I saw it on TV today. I need to read it again, and you might want to read it as well. (hint)