On January 2, 2021, my friend Mitzura Salgian (who lives in New York) sent me a collaboration with Gheorghe (Gigi) Rasovszky, which they have done in 1971, when both of them were high school students in Bucharest, Romania. 

As indicated by Mitzura, the collages are by Gigi and the text by her. The photo in the second collage is of the surrealist poet Gellu Naum. I received Mitzura's email at 8:29AM (the time is relevant, as will be shown further).

I liked very much this little piece of history and, at 10:34AM, forwarded Mitzura's email to my friend Bruno Jacobs (who lives in Cádiz, Spain), together with this explanatory message and translation:

Mitzura sent me this blast from the past (her high school days, to be more precise). The collages are by Gigi Rasovszky (the second one with Gellu's photo) and the text is by Mitzura. Here is the translation:

"He disappeared without a trace four days ago. His name is Giovanni Lozzaretti. He is 64 years old. When he left home, he was wearing a light blue raincoat and a brown hat. He has a scar on his right cheek. If you have any information about his whereabouts, please call 69.95.432."

 At 11:21AM, I received this email from Bruno:

I was in the middle of preparing my sushi when hearing the sound of this communication arriving. And squeezing the soy sauce out of these two plastic fish with protuberating lips as if meant to kiss each other's just as in the photograph…

Given the time difference between San Francisco (California), where I live, and Cádiz, it didn't surprise me that my email reached Bruno while he was preparing his dinner. However, my message reaching him at the exact moment when he squeezed the soy sauce out of those two plastic fish impressed me greatly and I told him how much I liked this poetic "coincidence."

At 11:47AM, Bruno responded with this comment:

Yes, this little coincidence has some discrete or even ”ridiculous” charm! When do you happen to manipulate two such little plastic fish at the very same time as an image like this reaches you with the "ping" sound of an arriving email?!

I cannot but marvel at the long migration of those fish through time and space (we should note the unlikely trajectory Bucharest—New York—San Francisco—Cádiz). When Mitzura and Gigi did that collaboration in 1971, they were, evidently, entirely unaware of the later fate of those fish, and that is precisely what makes this episode so beautiful. It makes one think of the unintended repercussions of the simplest acts that we engage in. Also, it makes one think of the enduring power of images and objects, which is not only beyond our control, but also indifferent to our intentions. 

I consider myself fortunate to have been at the right place and at the right time as an unwitting agent in this marvelous occurrence. 

Sasha Vlad