Pandora's Other Box

  It was 75 years ago yesterday that I first saw the light of this world. Not truly remembering the whereabouts of my previous experiences as a living entity, I guess it was decided to do my best to enjoy the habitat into which I had just been delivered.   I suppose there was a degree of celebration, for I was the first child born to my mother (others would follow ) and the first grandson born to my maternal grandparents ( and yes, several other grandchildren would follow suit ). Yes, I am being somewhat specific, for I never actually had the chance to play on ( hang from?)   the other branch of my family tree. But that is another story… or, perhaps a little later in this one.   There really isn’t much I can pass on to you about my first few years. There seems to be the usual, well-documented early life void in my memory banks when it comes to this lovely, carefree period of one’s life. Yet, a brief moment of some 15 minutes during the early part of my second ye...

Some 22-23 years ago, I met this guy in the midst of a business transaction. One of the many guys met and one of many transactions that I would try to complete in the course of time.   Also, one of the same many that would fail to produce results. That first meeting was uneventful. Almost irrelevant you might say. It happened in Zurich, Switzerland, and we were both there trying to pursue a possibility; a dream which, as dreams are wont to do, can disappear in a wisp, a word, a thought. Leaving no trace behind.   We had little chance to speak since we represented different interests at the time. But the stage was set. It seemed we were of a mind, of a different set and more dedicated to truly resolving the puzzle, than most of those with whom we had to deal. The average guy’s interest was geared only to cashing in whenever possible and at whatever cost... to someone else, preferably. It was a year later we met again. This time in Paris and working the same interests. We ...