… often go
awry… something like this goes the
saying we all know and then go out and confirm every day.
For
the most part, the end result of trials and tribulations lived over the years, has brought
home the fact that we go on a day to day basis, trying to accomplish whatever
goals there may have been laid out without realizing that the actual results
may not really and truly depend on one’s own efforts. There are a lot of surrounding and affecting circumstances, and there are also
many conjoined efforts which take the involvement of several people for a successful
end… people you may have never actually met.
14
years ago, a seemingly never ending saga was begun. A Holy Grail of sorts was
shown us, while at the same time being told that it could be easily (within reasonable parameters) attained.
Can, or should I, blame someone else for the following years of frustrations,
financial losses, fiascoes, threats (yeah,
some of those too) and constant personal pressure? Not really. A decision was made
to pursue this project and no one, that I can remember, forced me into it.
Many
interesting folk have been met and many interesting places have been visited as
the result of this pursuit. An ongoing study of human nature as it were … theirs
… and mine. At the very beginning of
this book worthy endeavor, while there were still some funds available and
while I was making of Zurich, Switzerland
The folk
met were indeed interesting; some claiming to be members of one royal Arab
family or another (birth control was,
apparently, not a known issue over there at the time!!) and to have direct
access to the “inner ear” of the ruler (take
your pick … must be crowded in those ears). Some of these spent their time
complaining about every one else trying to put their hands into their “buckets”
which, at some point and after much figuring out, I deducted to mean “pockets”,
said with an Arabic accent…
The
whole scenario was worthy of the best “007” movie: after hours meetings in out
of the way hostels; every one of those met (excluding
yours truly, for lack of money and excess dignity) had at least 2 others in
tow, their so-called “assistants”, guys who were close to bursting out of their
clothes while emanating suspicious rattling sounds from within their cranial
cavity … seems these were somehow not filled to capacity…. Folks who would come
in from Germany in a mini caravan, worthy of most any head of estate, and who
made it a point of telling everyone else at the meeting just how busy they
were… then there were the French, coming in from Paris and letting all know
just what special favor they were doing by just being there… not to mention the
accompanying dose of depressive statements about most things, from the weather
on down. There was a tough looking Russian group that even the Arabs shunned … And
then, there were the Italians … Mamma Mia!!!
Every
one had, according to them, a local (Swiss) banker who was just waiting to hear
the key word from them in order to run over to the bank, no matter what the
time or day, and open it wide so that their business could be taken care of.
Right!! More foolish I who at the
beginning and with a total lack of knowledge about the local customs and so on,
actually believed this could be possible. With time, I came to know that Swiss
bankers will steal from their own progenitors if this will make them a couple
of extra francs.
If
it wasn’t because of all that was lost on this road to nowhere, it would be …
well, actually, it would even be a funny story. The cast of characters alone
was worth the price of a ticket. Besides the contingent(s) mentioned before,
there was the deviant Argentinean and his older sidekick, who were there just
to get away from a very drab, taxi driving existence back home. Of course,
being in the pursuit of this Holy Grail, made it all justifiable. A quart of
whisky was put away every single evening by the old man while sitting in their
shared hotel room in his undershorts and asking his younger partner for a daily
“Report” … a report which would have been easier to formulate (and much truer) if it were about his advances
with a certain Dominican table dancer at their hotel’s bar.
This
is a very simplified account of my road through Zurich France (a
place which, along with London , would
subsequently have its own timeline and road), Germany ,
Austria , Belgium , Andorra
and Liechtenstein
There
were many lonely and trying moments during this passage; moments of questioning
that which was being done, its price in money and a very high personal cost
factor … Whether or not I was being a fool (some have said this is an affirmation, not a question … I still think not). Much was
learned, and continues to be learned about the inner workings of the
international financial world; workings which are so incredible that even most
of those who work within these “hallowed” institutions are not really even
remotely aware of this aspect of their employer’s involvements…
A
dream was born along the way and it is a dream I still intend to see come
through to reality; it was born from the incredible amount of human suffering I
witnessed along these many roads traversed on this “quest”, as well as those
previously travelled while working for the insurance association. As this unfolds,
you will also be a part of it…
…
To Be Continued… at a future date and time…
Be
Well … Be Back!!!
Final Notes:
- Pray for those who are fighting an illness which
may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and
counts!!
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