Reversal of Fortune

In my lifetime I’ve read and heard countless of rags to riches stories that gave me that pleasant feeling of joy and mild inspiration. After all, who wouldn’t be happy to hear about success stories of people who overcome overwhelmingly difficult challenges, especially those who come from the under privileged class. On the other hand, there are those born privileged, with a silver spoon in their mouth and by some twist of fate, lose their stature and wealth and fall from riches to rags. Just as the wind turns into a gale without warning, life is the same – utterly unpredictable. But I guess the worst kind reversal of fortune one could go through in this life is one that goes full circle – from rags to riches and back to rags. This is often the case where you hear of people blowing their brains out in total despondency and despair. One stint at the gutter is enough. A second trip is hell itself.

When I was a young lad growing up in the Visayas I remember a family that was a classic case of the rags to riches story. With hard work the enterprising couple who were barely making 3 square meals a day were able to acquire land and engaged in real estate. The success was gradual but steady and the couple were able to acquire haciendas, moved to a very large house and bought cars, sent their children to private schools. Money was a plenty and life was great. I remember the man of the house having a haircut lying sideways on the hammock, occasionally dozing off , keeping the poor barber on his toes all the time, unsure whether he cut both “patilyas” properly. He would switch sides to get the other side done. If I was the barber I would f-off in a jiffy but he was da man and a great tipper so you got to do it his way. When you were a kid you didn’t think much about it but remembering it now makes you realize what a moron the guy was and I would rather cut a baboon’s hair than doing guesswork on a head that’s filled with what looked like curly pubic hair. When you got lots of money you get things done your way and people won’t complain. To make the story short – the kids went to school but none of them finished college, the family was embroiled in a nasty and protracted court case that depleted their treasure chest, the sugar industry suffered a paralyzing recession. The family lost everything and went back to the gutter. They went full circle. Sad indeed.

CASA LOMA

Behind the splendor and opulence of this elegant mansion named Casa Loma lies a tragic story of a reversal of fortune. Imagine yourself living in this majestic 98 room mansion on top of a hill with a stunning view of the city. One day the city officials drop by and confiscate the house because you owe the government a substantial amount of unpaid real estate taxes. Such was the reversal of fortune for the illustrious businessman and industrialist Sir Henry Pellat and owner of the famous Casa Loma. He lost all his wealth so badly that he was forced to live at the house of his chaffeur until he died because he had nowhere to go. The man who was once so filthy rich and reportedly owned as much as 25% of Canada’s economy never for once thought that he would lose everything he owned. A series of business misfortunes and the effect of the Great Depression of the 30’s that crippled the North American economy contributed significantly to his fall. The majestic house doesn’t belong to his heirs. In his time, no one could afford to buy the house. It is now a tourist attraction. It is indeed true, that the higher you soar, the harder you fall.

(click on pic for full screen view)When I took these photos, the front part of the house was under renovation hence the partial shots. I wouldn’t call this house a castle because it isn’t fortified as castles ought to be. The materials used in the construction of the house is best in class, including the furniture which had been very well preserved. The house features an underground tunnel which leads to the garage with its own gas pump, horse stable and the pottery room. I went up the towers but darn my camera battery dried up and I had to charge up at the basement where they have a Druxy’s restaurant to serve patrons. The in door pool was never finished. Sir Henry also had a secret door from his study to the wine cellar that holds 1800 bottles of his select wine. There is also a private museum on the third floor. I took photos of some of the rooms and there were many of them. I couldn’t quite remember the names of the rooms correctly.

SEMANTIC PROBLEM

The other day a Pinoy friend told me a funny story. A newly arrived Pinay immigrant phoned her supervisor and left a message in her voice mail, that she couldn’t report because her tooth that recently had a “pasta” was aching. “Pasta” of course is Tagalog for tooth filling. She also left a voice mail for a colleague saying the same thing. That day some of her colleagues phoned her at home and left a message on her voice mail inquiring if she was okay. She went back to work the following day and one of her colleagues asked her ” oh, how is your teeth now ? Did you break it because you bit some uncooked pasta? ” Another colleague later on asked her ” hey, how are you feeling ? I heard you passed out yesterday”