Amélie, Forrest and DC

This week was great. I walked around downtown DC in jeans and t-shirt on a weekday! It makes all the difference. Things are so nice suddenly. You meet an ex-colleague for afternoon tea, another one for lunch, you spontaneously substitute one last German class, you visit museums without the crowds. All while your still-colleagues are on a three day retreat to build teams. You skipped, because “NewCo is not YouCo” (great quote from an IDB colleague in the elevator).

During such time of no worries about unread emails and no hurries back to the windowless office, I remembered that two of my favorite movie heroes tie me to Washington DC: Amélie Poulain and Forrest Gump! And I took action.

Luncheon of the Boating Party, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, hangs in the Phillips gallery, yes:

For Amélie fans, I don’t need to say much more. I couldn’t believe that it is here in DC when I first stumbled upon it! Such a betrayal! The key painting, from my Amélie! This is how Egyptians must feel when they see Tutankhamun at the British Museum! Bring Amélie home, lol! She is the girl with the wine glass, whose gaze escapes the viewer….. Anyways. While I wish Luncheon of the Boating Party was in the Louvre or something, I got to see it many times precisely because it is here in DC. Ironies of a modern life. There is even a mindfulness tour at the Phillips now, with stop #75 at Amélie and her friends.

After getting all worked up on this, I needed to re-watch Forrest Gump of course. Back when I found out I was going to DC four years ago, it was the first thing I did. Because of the scene in the Reflecting Pool. I still love it, needless to say. Maybe I just cry more, every time I watch it. Plus I realized this time that the scene where he stops running and goes home is in front of Monument Valley, on the highway I drove a month ago with my parents.

Life is beautiful and full of surprises, no matter where you are. That is what I really wanted to say I think. It still feels very good to leave DC behind right now and I am truly excited about what life might bring next.

Advertisement