A
trip to New Orleans (a favorite city) that comes to mind as a “special
occasion” happened sometime in the summer of 1999. I don’t remember the exact
month; some of these events have become blurred images in my memory. Yet, I
remember the details of the trip, as it became -several years later, and when
looking back- an image of much of what was wrong with what became my interests
for a good chunk of the years that came immediately after.
This
happened during my tenure with -let’s call him- “Ralphie from the Bronx” the
guy mentioned elsewhere in these ramblings and who shared an office in lower Manhattan
with a friend who dealt in wholesale women underwear. Ralphie had a bank document
which had come into his hands and after some unsuccessful attempts to unload it
or place it, he was told there was this visiting “Financial Guru” who was sure
to be able to help him with this. The catch? He would be staying at an out of
the way Mississippi plantation, and only for a week or so. Of course, he would
see Ralphie by invitation and appointment only.
The
invitation came (No surprises. After
playing hard to get, they all came through eventually) but the only catch
is that we were in NYC and they in New Orleans. This time, since he was also
coming, we (He, my wife and I) flew
down to NO where we were booked at the Hilton. I have to say Ralphie was
terrified of flying and of going outside of NYC, where he was born, grew up and
lived. After a couple of days of waiting around and spending his money, we
finally received a mysterious late-night phone call to let us know that a dark
green van would pick us up next morning at 6am sharp in order to take us to our
meeting with “Mr. Guru”. No questions were asked, and no answers given. Just be
ready at 6am.
The
van came at the appointed hour, with two bodyguard-like guys in it. My wife stayed
back at the hotel, where we’d be back at the end of the day. With some apprehension,
since we really didn’t know where this “Guru” was, we got into the van and proceeded
to be driven north. Once on the highway, the not very stable box-on-wheels was
moving at speeds well north of 90mph creating “some” concern on our part. We
drove into what seemed to be the wilderness; no signs of life, just forests and
solitary roads. Eventually, after about three hours of rolling north into Mississippi,
we turned into a small, well maintained road, which turned out to be a private
driveway into a very large estate, consisting of a main house and two smaller
houses, all bordering a good size lake.
Following
an “appropriate” wait during which we were free to walk around the immediate area
of the house, which included a long pier into the lake with a covered look-out
point at the end, we were finally brought into the audience with “The Great One”.
After some back and forth, it turned out he was just another intermediary (albeit with more money than Ralphie, or I,
had) and that the grand looking southern manor had been rented for the occasion.
Another dud. No agreements were reached, and we were sent unceremoniously back to
NO, where my wife and I stayed an extra 2 days, at Ralphie’s expense.
Little
did I know it then, but the events of this day were signaling the beginning of
a long, difficult and costly learning process. Two or three years later, when in Zurich
and going to similar meetings in rented castles and venues in Austria and
Germany, I would remember this day trip into the wilderness of Mississippi. The
only difference between the occasions were that the mountainside and
countryside in Austria and Germany, were prettier. Although the wilderness of
Mississippi was awesome in its own, untamed way. The result of these forays was
usually the same; the characters and locations somewhat different, with
different accents.
On
the one hand, there has been an incredible amount of time and effort wasted on
pursuits which could, in concept, easily rival the Holy Grail crusades. With
the subsequent financial and personal losses those other crusades also entailed. The positive outcome
has been an equally incredible trove of knowledge, travel, cultural
understanding, and people met along the way. And perhaps a slightly better
understanding of self; who and why.
Is
one worth the other? I am not sure about the answer to this question. Perhaps,
if I can put that knowledge and understanding to work on my own as well as
others’ behalf, then the answer would be yes.
Time
will tell.
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!!
No comments:
Post a Comment