Just for fun (the purpse of life)

Adobe Reader, whatever the hell that is, just installed 10's of millions of bytes, whatever the hell they are, and I'm sure, now owns my wife, my kids, thank god, and my vast portfolio of junk bonds, junk stocks, and prime pornography.

So far, at 5:42am, it's been a wonderful day!

And I've just finished our Book Club book: "We Tried..." or something like that, which describes Iraq war in turgid terms. I don't doubt that it's true... and disgustingly graphic. But after a half dozen wars over the past century, one would think that we might have learned something?

Why don't we drop, just small ones, atomic bombs here and there on an as needed basis? (This was part of a larger joke that was edited because the humor would not translate well for public consumption...)

I believe in religious freedom [I've freed myself from mine], but...

[Well, another day is off to a galloping start with one short but severe and very tight cramp in my left leg---no! not that one.

Don't know why this has been occurring nightly, accompanied by tingling in both feet, but it inconsiderately wakes me up. I suspect these discomforts are the result of my having taken a dozen different tablets every day, or impending death, and i can't complain too much about still being alive, having just crossed that magic threshold of the enlightened [or enfeebled] eighties!

But five hours of sleep a night? C'mon God, we can do better!

Or can we? After all, we're suddenly getting up there! And two of our four competitors appeared on the verge of collapse yesterday . So boys! Let's get on to a 3 times a week sched.!

We have survived one of those rare Friday the 13ths! So, Excelsior! Upwards and onwards! Full speed into 20 flamin '12!

With warmest regards on Friday the 13th [da da da dum...]

Ennalls

Rodney, Golsboro, Ennalls

For the first time, I have just seen a big box film about the first Congress and the formation of the US., and the break with Jolly Old Angla Terre. It is an older musical, without music as the remarkable event of the signing of the Declaration of Independence nears. Caesar Rodney, the rep. from Dela. plays a critical roll.

The entire presentation was excellently well done.

So I looked up Rodney on the inter net and an entire basket of names of several different family ancestor lines emerged. All of the Ennalls variety spelled one way or another, many of whom were descended from Ennalls slaves.

My mother once told me that she thought we were related to the Goldsboro family. I had had a roomate named Bob Goldsboro at Portsmouth. And the entire Goldsboro clan turns up as related to the Ennalls! Many of the G's and E's are descended from slaves.

So there's an entire sector of relationships that we know nothing about.

And perhaps there's a Rodney relationship. I hope not because they were a clan of dwarfs. Mother told me that I must accept the invitation of a Rodney girl to a party. She too was very small as was Judge Rodney who was a presiding judge in Dela. at the time.

Sure enough, the Rodney girl turned out to be a head shorter than I. One of the young ladies at the small party was in a wheel chair and spoke in a loud an slurred manner. She told me that that didn't matter, that she could do it anyway. I was immensly complimented and left the party as soon as I could slip out.

And that is more history than you ever wanted to know!

Uncle Ennalls Crossing the Elba

He very rarely talked about himself. In fact, I can recall only one instance in which he did. And every 5 years when the IX Corps top officers gathered at Market St., they all sat very close to each other and just stared into space. At those moments, a movie reel could not duplicate what they silently saw.

It makes me cry to think about it.

Heroes.

Little four star General Gillam--I can see him now, humbly standing in front of me, starring off into space. They all sipped on their drinks, but seldom spoke a word. Strange kind of reunion. They just wanted to take comfort from being together. Each understanding what the others had seen--had been through. All highly decorated, several career officers, all gathered around their General [And the tears stream down my face.]

Uncle Ennalls was awarded the Bronze Star and the Legion of Honor and a couple of French medals in the Second War. "Oh, I was just standing around when they were handing out medals." I think most of the 2nd War decorations were for outstanding service though I'm not at all sure. I know that somehow, he was one of the first to rush to meet the Russians....and they all threw their arms around each other and brought up the vodka and drank toast after toast after toast.

It was the end of the war.....

He told me that later they all confessed to not knowing what would happen when they met the Russians head on.

I have the big medal the Russkies pinned on him [as well as all the other medals from both wars]. The French liked to decorate everybody and kiss them. I don't know what he did to merit those decorations. Perhaps just speaking to them in their own language.

He did tell me that in the "First War", He drove an amublance and picked up the wounded. Did I tell you that in one of these instances and during combat, a French Officer came running to him seeking directions. He had been sent by the Americans to ask Uncle for directions since Uncle could speak French. Uncle said that he told the Frog that he knew the way, but was too exhausted to tell him. With that he collapsed into his ambulance asleep. so maybe he got one of his 3 Silver Stars for not speaking to the pesky Frog.

Another was awarded to him for standing in the middle of a field and directing crossing traffic while under bombardment, thereby getting snarled traffic running. [Actually it's the exact scene as in "Patton." Just one war later. and with a bunch of 1914 vehicles that did not always respond quickly.]

I think I have several of the military award letters which should prob be put under glass framing. I should consult an antiquarian about this. Perhaps one of you knows a web site that would describe the proper technique.

Uncle Ennalls

Ennalls the Great was born this day in, I believe, 1898. (March 2nd)

Wow he would have been 113. That would have made him the oldest WWI vet
alive. If he was still alive.

I just saw in the newspaper that the oldest known WW I vet died at
110. he was 16 when recruited in 1917.

Well, he basically drank himself to death dying in hospital at age 65. well, i guess bachelors have to find some commiseration. He liked some women, but was a dedicated celebate. I don't know why except for Christian dedication.

Instead he drank. He drank every day except during lent when he would give up either booze or cigarettes [of which he smoked 2 packs a day!] for Lent.
and no other man I've ever met could have done either, except, perhaps some priests?

Well, he was a very difficult man who could have the most engaging personality when he was not in a bad mood [frequently], at which times he could slice you dead in one sentence. Mother told me never to try to speak with him at breakfast. I thought I'd give it a go. Once.

He rarely spoke to women, they never had any thing interesting to say, and they would be segregated into the drawing room after dinner until it was nearly time to leave at which hour he would usher the gentlmen in for a few sentences. chit chat was of no interest.

I was his namesake, the son of his beloved brother who died so young, and was treated to a couple of trips to Europe. I, like many others of the family, lived at 1303 from time to time. Bill and Henry Patterson, Bitsy and Henry Berl, Aunt Quita and Edith, and the Brodhead boys from time to time. A couple of Berls or a few Pattersons might show up. And others from all over the country dropped in from time to time, all graciously received. Still, he was a renowned lawyer, the head of a leading national corporate law firm, the Chairman of the state Democartic Party, and how he managed to fit all this together is likely due to Allen and the staff Allen would sometimes bring in to help.

Allen is a book. But it's Uncle's birthday.

I am trying not to cry, but tears are running down my 79 year old cheeks.

Happy Birthday, Uncle.

Flash Trading

After the recent 1000 point "mistaken" stock market drop.

Anybody who knows anything about "algorithmic and flash trading" and who has seen my e-mails on subject must be laughing himself absolutely silly by now!

I suddenly appear with doubts based on biblical studies written during the Dark Ages.

All this stuff has evolved so fast and is changing so quickly that one has to be a mathematician to begin to understand what has already happened and what can occur in future.

I begin to wonder whether there is any place at all left for "fundamental" research and trading based on such obsolete factors as financial standing and industry ranking.

If you don't get any of this, it's because I haven't the foggiest idea what I'm talking about. For example: what on earth are "ultra low frequency networks" and what does any of this have to do with Graham and Dodd and the "Omaha Oracle"?

And does "Fundamental Analysis" have any place in markets designed by engineers and mathematicians
and run automatically by self reprogramming super-computers which are scalping and reversing in an instant? Or is security analysis reduced to an evaluative number factored into any and every equation?

They tell me I have Alzheimer's, so try to find some answers to these riddles quickly before I'm completely bonkers!


Ennalls

Alzheimer's

Asheville
May, 2010

Dear Family and Friends,

Suzi is amazingly sharp!

Some time ago, perhaps a year ago, she decided I was going to be examined by the Alzheimer's Clinic based here in Asheville.

Naturally, I thought she was nuts, and decided to humor her.

But, of course, they said I was Alzeed. So, I took refuge at the VA clinic which found similar, but not yet advanced indications.

Now, things are changing. Most notably, memory. It's really a bit bizarre. I simply and periodically draw a total blank when Suzi says impatiently, "We just discussed that yesterday!"

Uh, oh.

So far , I haven't gotten lost and my driving and tennis don't seem to be affected much at all. When that happens, you'll let me know, and , hopefully , I'll gracefully withdraw.

If you want to see me in a nearly normal state, if there has ever been such a thing, I suppose now's the time to do it. Wag will be visiting next week. we'll see the Christophers now and then since they're close. And we have been planning a trip North for late Spring or early Summer. So, kids, let us know your schedules.

Friends, I expect you will begin to drop off as time goes by, and that's exactly what I'd do were I in the reverse position. I certainly enjoyed each one of you, and we have had some great times together!

Family: good luck! It will be a bit different for you when, like Suzi's step mother, I fail to recognize you or think you are someone else.

It's bizarre, but I suspect that it's harder on friends and especially on family than it will be on me. So what if I think you're Napoleon? Actually, you do look a bit like Napoleon.

My guess is that it is not painful to the individual who is experiencing these mental debilities. The anguish likely heightens when the patient becomes an economic drag on family.

I've been continuing with stock market trading in an attempt to build before becoming bizarre, but the market has not been terribly cooperative, and I suppose the wise thing to do will be to turn it over to advisors in the not too distant future before I make radical mistakes.

Actually, there are so many children, and such a minor kitty, that it will not affect the kids much one way or the other. You'd think I would have built it into a significant pool by now, but I really have done a decent job by not losing money. So, my best advice to you kids is: Be nice to Suzi! She is fair, generous, smart, and has excellent advisors.

Affection to all,

Ennalls II

PS Oh yes, in terms of time, they’ve penciled me in for croaking in about 8 years. If you want to see me, try making it before I’m totally dafted. And forget the funeral. I’m not coming.

Delegate

Life is most remarkable. And you know the old Pa. Dutch adage! "I grow too soon old and too late smart.",

So I shall try to impart something I have learned from cousin Warren Berl who was head of the West Coast's largest independent brokerage firm, Chairman of the West Coast Stock Exchange, and involved in numerous eleemosynary organizations. when I asked him if he were Jewish: "I'm not interested in religion." Fascinating answer. But i had met his parents and there was no doubt.

His grandfather and my grandfather, who sired a large Catholic clan, were brothers. After the 1906 San Fran. quake, my granpaw said, "I'm outta here." He fled south with the railroads, married one of New Orleans' socialite belles.

Warren's brother always tells me we won't be able to see Warren; "He's ill and can't be available." I met big, strapping Warren once. He just wanted to get a peak at another Berl. He had seen a few in 1935 when his family made a pilgrimage by car to the East. They spent one night in the Berl house in Wilmington and were quickly ushered on the next day. [Great Uncle Berl whom I later met in S.F. just sounded too Jewish to be turned loose in the clannish city of Wilmington. He never mentioned the snubbing.]

What I have learned from Warren is worth noting: Warren delegates. Warren has always been immensely busy. How did he accomplish so much? Whenever I asked him a question, the answer was always, "Ask my brother about that." Or, "see so and so."

Now this may appear just normal to you, but i have been thinking about it because I was taught from early on to be self sufficient. "If you want it done, do it yourself." And so I did. Quite independent and successful in my own way.
But suddenly I realize that Warren was the really smart one! He never did a thing! but he knew exactly who could accomplish it. Of course he inherited a firm that had employees and that was a grand asset.

But the important thing is that he never tried to do it himself! He knew that someone else had more experience, more knowledge, or, at least, the capacity to accomplish the mission.

All my wasted life, I've been learning, learning, learning. At 78, i realize what an idiot I've been!