Excellent article Mr. King! I am looking forward to the December 13 zoom meeting. Here is a question that I have found no answer for and perhaps it only reflects a flawed and worsening memory:
20 or 30 years ago (this is where my memory might have failed) diesel fuel was cheaper than gasoline.
What happened, when did this price change occur.
What caused this price inversion? I haven't been able to ask a petroleum engineer this question.
Perhaps less than a minutes explanation during the December 13 meeting will answer this question.
Visited a farm in Iowa last week and learned that they are the number one corn producing state and that 40% of this goes into ethanol production. A sad state of misdirected subsidies!
Great question! I recall our (BPRs) good friend, Eric Fry, referring to the ethanol scam as "unsustainable, government sponsored food burning" when we were writing about it back in the Daily Reckoning days. I'll be sure to ask Byron and Rick all about it come December. Cheers!
I noticed that diesel jumped in price when they changed the blend to Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel for air pollution concerns about 10 to 15 years ago. My diesel Mercedes became more expensive to operate.
PG you are about to be called "racist". I agree with all your points though. Some on hear will not like hearing the truth but you are correct! BTW Nigerians in America make $69k per household while White's make $66k. They come to work. Back in Nigeria they only make $5k per year.
The 300D was popular and reliable many who had them would trade their wifes in before that car Lol. All those cars you mentioned are days gone by and sad really. The old muscle machines of the past were a work of art, unique, robust, innovative advantages, contrast that with today, it's not the same ! I remember swapping out parts from old Malibu into a Camaro direct fit, abundant parts stretching boundaries on new concepts an ideas, sad, really sad. GM has put out some great vehicles in the past and some more recent that never really got much attention or lived long enough to really be appreciated such as the mid 90s Nova if I recall , one of the best cars of the year in all the usual categories. I agree with much on what you touch on PG and I'll say the only way to stop people coming over is to stop the free lunchs. Lets face it, if people came based on a better life through their own efforts and merits and make it on their own without handouts that could solve a major problem. Though, I don't believe that will happen any time soon. At least not while the woke DemoRats feel they have full control of public policy and purse. Damn ! I miss the old America.
Im looking forward to Byron King's knowledge on the subject.
In the late 80s early 90s when it was decided by our better one"s, to do away with leaded fuel, due to harmfull effects ? although, largely due to new combustion engine designs, employing hardened cylinder- head valve's, for the "new unleaded" fuels, where as the old engine's performance using softer materials relied on the lubrication of the components from the leaded fuel of the old days and ultimately a push to manufacture lighter and more emissions free auto's to meet carbon emissions was a problem in the making. At the time we were dealing with an issue with some of the new vehicles and hence new engines' all running on unleaded fuels, producing a rough idle, knocking effects and running on after the ignition switch was killed. After some time with a few heads involved in the matter, the conclusion was the stock platinum spark plugs as the visible fault. Approx. a year later, we, as in the Dealership I was working with received a visit from some men in suits.
They wanted to know why ? We as the only dealership in all of Canada were replacing Platinum spark plugs to the tune of multiple thousands causing the manufacture to look into this costly warranty.
In the end it was discovered that in BC the government decided to use an additive in our fuels to make up for the older engines still considered road worthy and the potential harmfull effect of running fuel without the lead. I dont recall the exact long acroynm but, PTFE.....? it had an effect causing a chemical reaction with some specific engines and temperatures creating the fault, ultimately causing detonation. And if you ask me? Ethanol is not good for engines, it creates a coking effect on parts and causes or can cause fuel delivery problems. The government was looking to solve a problem where none existed !
As far as the state of our union circa November 2022, I start with a premise whose profundity is both denied and under appreciated, to wit: Stolen elections have consequences. Whatever you believe about that statement, er premise, ask yourself these questions:
How would an inaugural illegitimate government behave? Would itsโ confidence in itsโ electoral legitimacy(so claimed) naturally lead to a fondness for the people, a noblesse oblige to duly represent all citizens with assiduous application of the principles of the best constitution ever created to serve the best interests of itsโ citizens? Would itsโ putative electoral legitimacy give it a kind and steady hand, a love of what is best for the nation, a respect for truth and justice as the necessary 2 sides of the coin of government? Would itsโ confidence naturally produce restraint and give it pause, both domestically and abroad. Would it seek broad counsel, knowing that wisdom does so?
The most confident and competent government in the world is that government which governs of, by and for the people.
Enjoyable read. I donโt know who Iโm complimenting and who Iโm insulting when I say I read Byronโs article down to the second last paragraph graph with Joelโs voice in my mind - before I realised it was actually Byron writing!
Byron, well done! No one writes like Bill, but you have your own style which I really enjoy and relate to.
In the last several weeks I have spoken at two funerals, and had a birthday - and the next one rolls over to start with a "7" - so thoughts of death and its inevitability for each of us have been on my mind. I am not closely entwined with the traditions of "Dia de la muerte", living here in Ecuador now, but I have come to recognize that we all need to remember our mortality from time to time. Someday we will leave everything here to those who follow. Have we improved on it? Been good stewards of our resources and opportunities?
If we were all to meditate on this more often, I expect the world might be a better place.
As I sat here reading your long list of questions, shaking my head negatively, it IS a sad day for the America I grew up in. I agree with you, itโs all about who can stampede over their fellow American for a quick profit! The inmates are running the asylum.
Once Statolatry became the national religion America was doomed. Democracy is communism-lite, but it never stays lite for long. Yes, the Deep-State is despicable, but its the Statists among us who empowered these miscreants. Nothing will improve until we as a society fall back in love with Liberty. The current Jacobin Regime and their useful idiots view Libertarians as domestic terrorists so the chance of a Liberty Revival doesn't look very promising. Realistically, us Plebs should expect to assume the position and get it good and hard for the foreseeable future. After all, we have the government we deserve :-)
You do know that Rand denounced Libertarianism, right? A better example would be John Locke and Thomas Jefferson. Current examples would be Ron & Rand Paul and Andrew Napolitano. The anarchist smear is just Statist claptrap and yes there are plenty of useful idiots who lap up that horse urine. This quote from Jefferson is good medicine for what is currently ailing America: "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." Unfortunately, we're not gonna get the good medicine, just more democracy and a bigger better banana republic. Bad theory always results in bad outcomes. The Statists will keep doubling down with their ritual incantations, but the result will be the same.
Libertarianism is a political philosophy that advocates only minimal state intervention in the free market and the private lives of citizens. Think Night Watchman. Its a philosophy not a Tribe, and Ayn Rand didn't come up with this philosophy. Even John Locke, the Father of Liberalism, borrowed from earlier philosophers such as Thomas Aquinas. I hate to think of what this world would look like today if our ancestors hadn't embraced this philosophy. The way things are going we'll get to see a world without Liberty and it will be one horrific nightmare. You don't know what you have till its gone!
Kids in school? If you can keep them awake if they are there at all. Where are they getting guns? Do their parents care?
Our current administration wants to give money away to people that don't work. We are a country with vast energy reserves but we are drawing down strategic reserves, while paying increasing amounts for fuel.
I'm a 76 year old Vietnam Veteran who used to be proud of our country. What happened?
Where are "they" getting guns? "They" get "their" guns from profiteering gun dealers supplied by profiteering gun manufacturing, supported by the NRA, gun lobbies & the mandatory tax, ESPECIALLY the mandatory tax. Replacing the mandatory tax with a voluntary tax would defund this madness. But I have no high-in-the-sky hopes for this as there are too many ghouls feeding at the trough of mandatory taxation.
You missed a bit of progtarde narrative when you cleaned up. There's still some dripping off your chin.
The ignorance you display in your rant of a post makes it clear to one and all that you have NEVER tried to legally purchase a gun in the United States. If you did, you would immediately realize what a total load of BS you just typed...
Just bought two and many hoops to jump through. I am getting a CCW now with more hoops to jump through. My last and only "crime" was 1970 and a speeding ticket. It is hard to get legal gun.
So sad about the books. I have been collecting books for the last nearly 60 years and have an extensively library. Now I have a problem, kids don't read books and no one else does either it seems. Some of these books are up to 180 years old! They are not first editions or in good enough condition for collectors.
I am afraid that when I'm gone they will all go to landfil. Such is modern life.
See if you can find someone to take over your priceless legacy of 60 years preserving books. The condition of the books is nothing. The content is everything.
Here's a useful nugget from Dr. Ron Paul. Most Statists are buried without ever learning this dirty little secret:
"One of the dirty secrets of American politics is that the establishment of both parties supports the corporatist welfare-warfare state and the fiat money system that makes it all possible. While they quibble over the details, the only real disagreement between the two parties is over which one is better able to run the economy, run the world, and run our personal lives."
An enjoyable, thoughtful, read Byron, thank you. I don't think the changes you refer to are just confined to the US though - it's a western world thing in my opinion, that will be cause for debate for future historians, pondering how we managed to f........ it all up so badly, so quickly. Assuming there is a survivable earth for future historians of course.
Good on you! Voting is part of the problem. I discovered decades ago, that names & faces change on Election Day, then it's back to bidness as usual the next day. Voting is a charade.
Voting is indeed a right, but never a duty. It is a choice to exercise or abstain from, just as speaking is a right to speak up or remain silent. Like voting, it is a choice. The right to vote implies the right to abstain. Voters should never criticize abstainers & abstainers should never criticize voters. I have chosen to speak up, saying voting is part of the problem, because it encourages those who run for office & gain control over spending the mandatory tax receipts. Saying voting is part of the problem is not criticizing those who vote. It is an opinion based on observation. You can label my opinion cynical & I can label your voting divisive & ineffective. We know what happens in a close vote when voting is nearly 50 - 50, with nearly all votes cancelling each other out. You've heard of cancel culture I'm sure. That is a part of democracy. You've also heard of the Electoral College which is cancel culture built into the Constitution. When the election is thrown to the Electoral College, every vote is cancelled & the election is moot. Then the Electoral College chooses the new president. Just in case you don't realize it, this is exactly how the Roman Catholic Church operates when the College of Cardinals chooses the new pope. The only difference is the Catholic Church has no charade of an "election". It goes directly to a college of electors. This is not taught in the propaganda machine called the U. S. Public School system. We have to figure it out for ourselves. Jello
My issue with those who choose to NOT vote (as is your prerogative Mm. Loy), is that by not voting you do two things:
1. Abdicate any small chance you may have in helping your fellow citizens determine who will "govern" us, and
2. Essentially declare that you have no "skin in the game", which is a coward's way of thinking and acting when you have the choice to participate.
No, you don't have to vote, but I agree with PG - if you are going to partake of the benefits this Country offers its CITIZENS, then voting IS a Duty...
The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, that was declared Armistice Day for World War I. Do we have to elevate every move of the Fed, the president, the congress and all the others who hold us in suspense for some earth moving announcement ? Even the guys who say they can tell you exactly what is going to happen if one does this or that. Do we have to wait and hang on every statement for the signal that doom is ahead or smooth sailing awaits us? There are people, families, even countries waiting to see what the Fed is going to do. Myself included. What a great predicament this is, was the statement of a great old radio show. All ears are to the ground looking and listening for a hint of what is to come. The Man that is going around taking names would be disappointed in our actions. Mine included. Just sayin'
Yes brother, woke is a joke, but not for the mentally deranged libtards behind it. Itโs a means to an end for their communist agenda. Only the most corrupt, deranged and evil are behind this psycho movement, and the corporate scum need to go out of business asap!
Reading Mr. King's post was quite timely for me as yesterday afternoon (Nov. 1) I made my way with my second cousin and her 1 and a half year old son, to the cemetery of the Hungarian town where my mother's family has a small burial plot. Once we arrived, this modest cemetery was quite alive with people placing flowers, lighting candles & sweeping away the Autumn leaves that had fallen. My cousin was busy most of the time raining in her little son as he bolted off in different directions..this was my first experience of All Saint's Day here in Hungary...back on the west coast of Canada where I grew up, I never heard of anyone that observed this day as a time to visit loved ones buried in a cemetery...that's not to say that it doesn't happen.... maybe more so in eastern Canada. I felt a connection with my mother's ashes where they are resting with her relatives as I swept away the leaves, place some flowers & lit a candle. I then stood back and reflected on her difficult life living through a world war, revolution and family tragedies.. We made our way to visit my aunt's plot (my mother's oldest sister). Her family is all but forgotten, her husband died back in the 80's and her son is long lost..we think he maybe dead as well. We discovered flowers left and candles that had been lit...by villagers, strangers or others that care..As we left, the sky had darkened and all the candles lite up the cemetery in a way that I will never forget... I hope there is enough room for my ashes in my mother's plot. Apologies for the novel.
Excellent article Mr. King! I am looking forward to the December 13 zoom meeting. Here is a question that I have found no answer for and perhaps it only reflects a flawed and worsening memory:
20 or 30 years ago (this is where my memory might have failed) diesel fuel was cheaper than gasoline.
What happened, when did this price change occur.
What caused this price inversion? I haven't been able to ask a petroleum engineer this question.
Perhaps less than a minutes explanation during the December 13 meeting will answer this question.
Visited a farm in Iowa last week and learned that they are the number one corn producing state and that 40% of this goes into ethanol production. A sad state of misdirected subsidies!
Great question! I recall our (BPRs) good friend, Eric Fry, referring to the ethanol scam as "unsustainable, government sponsored food burning" when we were writing about it back in the Daily Reckoning days. I'll be sure to ask Byron and Rick all about it come December. Cheers!
I noticed that diesel jumped in price when they changed the blend to Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel for air pollution concerns about 10 to 15 years ago. My diesel Mercedes became more expensive to operate.
PG you are about to be called "racist". I agree with all your points though. Some on hear will not like hearing the truth but you are correct! BTW Nigerians in America make $69k per household while White's make $66k. They come to work. Back in Nigeria they only make $5k per year.
The 300D was popular and reliable many who had them would trade their wifes in before that car Lol. All those cars you mentioned are days gone by and sad really. The old muscle machines of the past were a work of art, unique, robust, innovative advantages, contrast that with today, it's not the same ! I remember swapping out parts from old Malibu into a Camaro direct fit, abundant parts stretching boundaries on new concepts an ideas, sad, really sad. GM has put out some great vehicles in the past and some more recent that never really got much attention or lived long enough to really be appreciated such as the mid 90s Nova if I recall , one of the best cars of the year in all the usual categories. I agree with much on what you touch on PG and I'll say the only way to stop people coming over is to stop the free lunchs. Lets face it, if people came based on a better life through their own efforts and merits and make it on their own without handouts that could solve a major problem. Though, I don't believe that will happen any time soon. At least not while the woke DemoRats feel they have full control of public policy and purse. Damn ! I miss the old America.
I hate to say your right, it's disturbing indeed. A spark is needed to revive Liberty.
I'm reminded of a quote:
"Gold is the money of Kings Silver is the money of Gentlemen Barter is the money of peasants but debt is the money of slaves" - Norm Franz
Im looking forward to Byron King's knowledge on the subject.
In the late 80s early 90s when it was decided by our better one"s, to do away with leaded fuel, due to harmfull effects ? although, largely due to new combustion engine designs, employing hardened cylinder- head valve's, for the "new unleaded" fuels, where as the old engine's performance using softer materials relied on the lubrication of the components from the leaded fuel of the old days and ultimately a push to manufacture lighter and more emissions free auto's to meet carbon emissions was a problem in the making. At the time we were dealing with an issue with some of the new vehicles and hence new engines' all running on unleaded fuels, producing a rough idle, knocking effects and running on after the ignition switch was killed. After some time with a few heads involved in the matter, the conclusion was the stock platinum spark plugs as the visible fault. Approx. a year later, we, as in the Dealership I was working with received a visit from some men in suits.
They wanted to know why ? We as the only dealership in all of Canada were replacing Platinum spark plugs to the tune of multiple thousands causing the manufacture to look into this costly warranty.
In the end it was discovered that in BC the government decided to use an additive in our fuels to make up for the older engines still considered road worthy and the potential harmfull effect of running fuel without the lead. I dont recall the exact long acroynm but, PTFE.....? it had an effect causing a chemical reaction with some specific engines and temperatures creating the fault, ultimately causing detonation. And if you ask me? Ethanol is not good for engines, it creates a coking effect on parts and causes or can cause fuel delivery problems. The government was looking to solve a problem where none existed !
Very thoughtful and well written essay.
As far as the state of our union circa November 2022, I start with a premise whose profundity is both denied and under appreciated, to wit: Stolen elections have consequences. Whatever you believe about that statement, er premise, ask yourself these questions:
How would an inaugural illegitimate government behave? Would itsโ confidence in itsโ electoral legitimacy(so claimed) naturally lead to a fondness for the people, a noblesse oblige to duly represent all citizens with assiduous application of the principles of the best constitution ever created to serve the best interests of itsโ citizens? Would itsโ putative electoral legitimacy give it a kind and steady hand, a love of what is best for the nation, a respect for truth and justice as the necessary 2 sides of the coin of government? Would itsโ confidence naturally produce restraint and give it pause, both domestically and abroad. Would it seek broad counsel, knowing that wisdom does so?
The most confident and competent government in the world is that government which governs of, by and for the people.
You will know them by their fruit.
Enjoyable read. I donโt know who Iโm complimenting and who Iโm insulting when I say I read Byronโs article down to the second last paragraph graph with Joelโs voice in my mind - before I realised it was actually Byron writing!
Iโll take that as a compliment, Mr. King being a true man of letters and far the wiser man. Cheers!
A+ Byron King. Bill picked the right man for the job!
Byron, well done! No one writes like Bill, but you have your own style which I really enjoy and relate to.
In the last several weeks I have spoken at two funerals, and had a birthday - and the next one rolls over to start with a "7" - so thoughts of death and its inevitability for each of us have been on my mind. I am not closely entwined with the traditions of "Dia de la muerte", living here in Ecuador now, but I have come to recognize that we all need to remember our mortality from time to time. Someday we will leave everything here to those who follow. Have we improved on it? Been good stewards of our resources and opportunities?
If we were all to meditate on this more often, I expect the world might be a better place.
As I sat here reading your long list of questions, shaking my head negatively, it IS a sad day for the America I grew up in. I agree with you, itโs all about who can stampede over their fellow American for a quick profit! The inmates are running the asylum.
Once Statolatry became the national religion America was doomed. Democracy is communism-lite, but it never stays lite for long. Yes, the Deep-State is despicable, but its the Statists among us who empowered these miscreants. Nothing will improve until we as a society fall back in love with Liberty. The current Jacobin Regime and their useful idiots view Libertarians as domestic terrorists so the chance of a Liberty Revival doesn't look very promising. Realistically, us Plebs should expect to assume the position and get it good and hard for the foreseeable future. After all, we have the government we deserve :-)
You do know that Rand denounced Libertarianism, right? A better example would be John Locke and Thomas Jefferson. Current examples would be Ron & Rand Paul and Andrew Napolitano. The anarchist smear is just Statist claptrap and yes there are plenty of useful idiots who lap up that horse urine. This quote from Jefferson is good medicine for what is currently ailing America: "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." Unfortunately, we're not gonna get the good medicine, just more democracy and a bigger better banana republic. Bad theory always results in bad outcomes. The Statists will keep doubling down with their ritual incantations, but the result will be the same.
Libertarianism is a political philosophy that advocates only minimal state intervention in the free market and the private lives of citizens. Think Night Watchman. Its a philosophy not a Tribe, and Ayn Rand didn't come up with this philosophy. Even John Locke, the Father of Liberalism, borrowed from earlier philosophers such as Thomas Aquinas. I hate to think of what this world would look like today if our ancestors hadn't embraced this philosophy. The way things are going we'll get to see a world without Liberty and it will be one horrific nightmare. You don't know what you have till its gone!
Kids in school? If you can keep them awake if they are there at all. Where are they getting guns? Do their parents care?
Our current administration wants to give money away to people that don't work. We are a country with vast energy reserves but we are drawing down strategic reserves, while paying increasing amounts for fuel.
I'm a 76 year old Vietnam Veteran who used to be proud of our country. What happened?
Where are "they" getting guns? "They" get "their" guns from profiteering gun dealers supplied by profiteering gun manufacturing, supported by the NRA, gun lobbies & the mandatory tax, ESPECIALLY the mandatory tax. Replacing the mandatory tax with a voluntary tax would defund this madness. But I have no high-in-the-sky hopes for this as there are too many ghouls feeding at the trough of mandatory taxation.
Hi Loy -
You missed a bit of progtarde narrative when you cleaned up. There's still some dripping off your chin.
The ignorance you display in your rant of a post makes it clear to one and all that you have NEVER tried to legally purchase a gun in the United States. If you did, you would immediately realize what a total load of BS you just typed...
Just bought two and many hoops to jump through. I am getting a CCW now with more hoops to jump through. My last and only "crime" was 1970 and a speeding ticket. It is hard to get legal gun.
So sad about the books. I have been collecting books for the last nearly 60 years and have an extensively library. Now I have a problem, kids don't read books and no one else does either it seems. Some of these books are up to 180 years old! They are not first editions or in good enough condition for collectors.
I am afraid that when I'm gone they will all go to landfil. Such is modern life.
See if you can find someone to take over your priceless legacy of 60 years preserving books. The condition of the books is nothing. The content is everything.
Here's a useful nugget from Dr. Ron Paul. Most Statists are buried without ever learning this dirty little secret:
"One of the dirty secrets of American politics is that the establishment of both parties supports the corporatist welfare-warfare state and the fiat money system that makes it all possible. While they quibble over the details, the only real disagreement between the two parties is over which one is better able to run the economy, run the world, and run our personal lives."
An enjoyable, thoughtful, read Byron, thank you. I don't think the changes you refer to are just confined to the US though - it's a western world thing in my opinion, that will be cause for debate for future historians, pondering how we managed to f........ it all up so badly, so quickly. Assuming there is a survivable earth for future historians of course.
Very interesting article! By all means, continue to write more of them and let Bill have more rest time!
I am not voting this year. I'm a republican. After lying Trump it has all changed. Everyone lies.
Good on you! Voting is part of the problem. I discovered decades ago, that names & faces change on Election Day, then it's back to bidness as usual the next day. Voting is a charade.
Voting is indeed a right, but never a duty. It is a choice to exercise or abstain from, just as speaking is a right to speak up or remain silent. Like voting, it is a choice. The right to vote implies the right to abstain. Voters should never criticize abstainers & abstainers should never criticize voters. I have chosen to speak up, saying voting is part of the problem, because it encourages those who run for office & gain control over spending the mandatory tax receipts. Saying voting is part of the problem is not criticizing those who vote. It is an opinion based on observation. You can label my opinion cynical & I can label your voting divisive & ineffective. We know what happens in a close vote when voting is nearly 50 - 50, with nearly all votes cancelling each other out. You've heard of cancel culture I'm sure. That is a part of democracy. You've also heard of the Electoral College which is cancel culture built into the Constitution. When the election is thrown to the Electoral College, every vote is cancelled & the election is moot. Then the Electoral College chooses the new president. Just in case you don't realize it, this is exactly how the Roman Catholic Church operates when the College of Cardinals chooses the new pope. The only difference is the Catholic Church has no charade of an "election". It goes directly to a college of electors. This is not taught in the propaganda machine called the U. S. Public School system. We have to figure it out for ourselves. Jello
Absolutely right PG.
My issue with those who choose to NOT vote (as is your prerogative Mm. Loy), is that by not voting you do two things:
1. Abdicate any small chance you may have in helping your fellow citizens determine who will "govern" us, and
2. Essentially declare that you have no "skin in the game", which is a coward's way of thinking and acting when you have the choice to participate.
No, you don't have to vote, but I agree with PG - if you are going to partake of the benefits this Country offers its CITIZENS, then voting IS a Duty...
The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, that was declared Armistice Day for World War I. Do we have to elevate every move of the Fed, the president, the congress and all the others who hold us in suspense for some earth moving announcement ? Even the guys who say they can tell you exactly what is going to happen if one does this or that. Do we have to wait and hang on every statement for the signal that doom is ahead or smooth sailing awaits us? There are people, families, even countries waiting to see what the Fed is going to do. Myself included. What a great predicament this is, was the statement of a great old radio show. All ears are to the ground looking and listening for a hint of what is to come. The Man that is going around taking names would be disappointed in our actions. Mine included. Just sayin'
Don Harrell
Yes brother, woke is a joke, but not for the mentally deranged libtards behind it. Itโs a means to an end for their communist agenda. Only the most corrupt, deranged and evil are behind this psycho movement, and the corporate scum need to go out of business asap!
Reading Mr. King's post was quite timely for me as yesterday afternoon (Nov. 1) I made my way with my second cousin and her 1 and a half year old son, to the cemetery of the Hungarian town where my mother's family has a small burial plot. Once we arrived, this modest cemetery was quite alive with people placing flowers, lighting candles & sweeping away the Autumn leaves that had fallen. My cousin was busy most of the time raining in her little son as he bolted off in different directions..this was my first experience of All Saint's Day here in Hungary...back on the west coast of Canada where I grew up, I never heard of anyone that observed this day as a time to visit loved ones buried in a cemetery...that's not to say that it doesn't happen.... maybe more so in eastern Canada. I felt a connection with my mother's ashes where they are resting with her relatives as I swept away the leaves, place some flowers & lit a candle. I then stood back and reflected on her difficult life living through a world war, revolution and family tragedies.. We made our way to visit my aunt's plot (my mother's oldest sister). Her family is all but forgotten, her husband died back in the 80's and her son is long lost..we think he maybe dead as well. We discovered flowers left and candles that had been lit...by villagers, strangers or others that care..As we left, the sky had darkened and all the candles lite up the cemetery in a way that I will never forget... I hope there is enough room for my ashes in my mother's plot. Apologies for the novel.
Thank you Zoltan, and may God Bless you and yours...