The Golden Ring

A Severin Wunderman story about chance, destiny, and Andy Warhol.

Bonjour à tous et à toutes,

I am at present recovering from a particularly nasty case of Covid-19, which got me on my return travel to Los Angeles and sidelined me for over a week. This is the reason why today’s piece is shorter than usual. Please let this serve as a reminder to wear a mask in confined public spaces like planes and trains, especially if you are under the weather. As an immunocompromised person, I thank you in advance, and I hope you enjoy.

x Chloë

“Horses at Night” by Antoine Plainfossé, 2023.

There’s a French expression, one which classically defies direct translation, that you may have heard before: coup de foudre. 

In its most common use, it refers to “love at first sight”. But more broadly, it describes the phenomenon of extraordinary things happening in astonishing contexts, by chance. 

Some months ago, one of my most cherished friends asked me to speak at her wedding reception. While I was reflecting on her union with her adorable husband, wondering what on earth I was going to say, I kept coming back to the way in which they met.