Black Friday is the unofficial kickoff to the holiday shopping season. When are you planning on beginning your holiday shopping?
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I stay away from the "holiday shopping" mania until AFTER Thanksgiving. I don't like the fact that the greedy retailers bombard us yearly with early holiday shopping. I saw Christmas decorations in September and nearly walked out of the store in protest. Especially in these times when people are scraping by just to get their families fed, it really irks and offends me to see so many frivilous ads around jewelry and cars.
I will do my Christmas shopping sometime the week after Thanksgiving. I don't believe in "Black Friday" sales only because all the hype and hassle of the mob are just not worth it to me. Anyone ever try to find parking ANYWHERE on Black Friday? Yea, good luck with that.
I don't need to remind anybody that these are some difficult times. Just like many others, all I wanted was a place to call my own. Not being saavy about the housing market, stocks, bonds and other financial investments, the one thing I knew was that owning a house was better than renting. And, like most people, I did my research and found a place just before the real estate prices went through the roof. I mean, I barely got by just under the wire! The condo I was interested in already had a buyer but the deal fell through and I was the next to bid. The sellers were so worried that the place wouldn't sell so they accepted my counter-offer. Yay for me.
My new (to me) home isn't exactly the Taj Mahal, but it's comfortable and suits the needs of me and my family. Because I'm always looking for a good deal and wanted to pay off the principal in addition to just the intererest, I decided to refinance a couple of years ago. After some number crunching, a nifty, new job, and some creative checkbook balancing (heh), I was finally able to meet that goal. I've always had good credit and paid my bills on time. I set up my mortgage payments, as well as other monthly bills, to be paid electronically through my bank. I always wanted to cover my bases and make sure nothing fell through the cracks.
Unfortunately, eight months into the nifty, new job, I got laid-off. This was the beginning of the "economic recession/depression of the 00's" as I like to call it. What does one do in this situation? I immediately started the Unemployment Insurance process going, but that wasn't going to take care of my $3K a month mortgage! Thankfully, I received severance pay along with any vacation time accrued but it wasn't that much since I hadn't been there a whole year yet. The combination of all the emotions -- the shock, the WTF-ness of it all and the feeling of what-the-hell-do-I-do-now really made it difficult to think of the future.
Going into full "job-hunting" mode, I treated my search as a full time job. Minus the paycheck. As much as unemployment (benefits) helped, it wasn't enough and it wasn't going to last forever. I needed a plan. After using the severence funds, I turned to my savings account to maintain my mortgage payments. I guess at first I was a bit optimistic about finding a job sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, I ended up digging into my savings for about 5 months, and when things looked bleak on the job-hunting front, I needed a backup plan.
Unbeknownst to me at the time, I could have discussed certain "options" earlier with Chase, but I guess I didn't want to alarm them so soon with my predicament. After all, this is the first time I've been in this situation. After month 5 of unemployment, I decided I couldn't continue to pay the full mortgage each month so I decided to pay most of it...just not all. At least I was making an honest, sincere effort and I hoped that they would notice.
Dealing with Chase under the most noblest of circumstances was a challenge in itself. I first inquired about my "options" in January. I heard nothing back in the couple or so weeks they said they'd get back to me so I checked back again a month later. I had to call several times between January and April in order to get any answers. I should have known this was a bad sign. It could have been due to the fact that Chase was busy trying to acquire WaMu, because they sure weren't too concerned with my case. The first time I checked back, I was told that someone was reviewing my account. The next time I checked back, I was told that my request (for a loan modification) was "rejected" due to the fact that I didn't have adequate income (well, DUH!); the next time I checked I was told that my account was still in review, and the last time I checked I was told I'd be receiving an information-gathering packet in the mail.
By this time, I finally found another job (though paying a lot less) and felt hopeful about getting things back to normal...with a slight modification, of course.
The paperwork I had to fill out was just as extensive as the refi I had done only months before. During this forebearance, I was given a set amount to pay for the 3 months this process was going to take. What killed me is that they required payment in the form of a cashier's check or money order. I had been making payments through my bank up until this point and everything seemed just fine and NOW they want special payment procedures. Ugh! Really Chase? I'm going to start writing bad checks NOW? Really? Whatever...I figured I'd play their game in order to show that I'm sincere in my efforts to resolve this dilemma. Before each payment was due, I'd make a copy of the letter and send the cashier's check or money order via Fed Ex (so I can track it) to the special address given. I did this diligently for the 3 months. At the end of the 3 months, I was to send more paperwork providing tax info, income statements, bank statements, assets, etc., etc., etc. During this time, I even went to a foreclosure seminar in hopes to avoid such a scenario. They had representatives from several mortgages companies present and each homeowner had an opportunity to spend some time with these representatives to go over any questions, etc.
When I met with the Chase representative, I brought a whole portfolio full of all my paperwork from my first contact in January through gathering all the information requested after the forebearance period. The rep was quite taken aback by the progress I had made and said that all I needed to do was fax the information to the contact in the letter and things should get rolling for me. She even said that I could bring the completed paperwork to their branch office and they would make sure it was complete and fax it in for me when the time came. Turns out I didn't need to go far because my local neighborhood WaMu was now a Chase branch.
As per the instructions, before the 3 months forebearance was up, I faxed all the info they required to Chase Headquarters for their review. I put my loan number on all the documents and had a representative fax it for me from their office in California to the special Chase office in Ohio as indicated in the letter. I wanted to make sure there was no room for error and that I covered absolutely everything that was required. The next step was the waiting...
Because I'm the type that needs to budget and plan ahead for my monthly expenses, I really needed to know what my new (if any) payment was going to be. So, three weeks after I faxed the tons of paperwork, I decided to be proactive and call Chase to follow up. After all this time and effort, one would think that in bringing up my account number, the whole history of my dealings in the past few months would pop up and speak volumes. Unfortunately, that was not the case. This is what actually happened on Monday when I called:
8:45 am - Called number on forebearance letter (Mortgage Assistance Dept.), Kristy answered. After explaning the reason for my call (not to mention providing loan number, SS#, phone # and promise of first born), she determined that I needed to call the Loan Modification Dept. and proceeded to give me that number as well as transfer my call.
Loan Modification Dept. - Spoke to Amanda. Again, after giving my name, rank and serial number, she determined I needed to speak to the Forebearance Program Dept. and proceeded to give me the number and transfer me.
Forebearance Program - Spoke with Mark. Again, after providing my loan #, SS#, phone # and explaining the nature of my call, Mark decided that what I needed was to speak with the Home Owners' Assistance Dept. He gave me the number and transfered me.
Home Owners' Assistance Dept - Spoke to Lafayette. By this time, I had my loan # memorized, provided the SS#, phone #, etc. and gave my spiel. And you know, much to my non-surprise, Lafayette suggested I talk to someone in Loss Mitigation.
Loss Mitigation - Spoke with Nina. At this point, I tried my best to not show my complete and utter frustration. I deserve an Oscar award for maintaining my composure. Of course, Nina wasn't able to help me. But guess who could?
Yup, the first number I called -- the Mortgage Assistance Dept. I can't remember who I spoke with but they couldn't help me either and said to call back at the end of the month. So much for follow-through.
When I arrived home, what do I get in the mail is a letter from Chase suggesting that they could assist me in a loan modification. WTF?! Don't these people/departments/computers ever share information or talk to each other!? How long have I been in this process now?! Unbelievable.
But wait, there's more.
I also received a notice that a certified letter was waiting for me. I called the post office and asked them to deliver it again and someone would sign for it (on the dotted line...twice). I was hoping this was the letter I was waiting for (discussing my new loan plan), and that the earlier letter was some sort of fluky oversight.
The letter finally came today. The subject? A warning that my loan is delinquent and that I need to take action in order to prevent foreclosure.
There are just no words to describe how infuriating this has been. The saga continues as I get on the phone first thing in the morning and yell at a few people as well as pay a visit to their branch office to continue yelling at some more people who maybe didn't hear it the first time.
As soon as I am able, I will be taking my business elsewhere.
Buyer beware.
UPDATE: 10-19-09
I decided to add this update to the current blog so that I can keep my documentation all together in case the occasion arises when I have to forward/print this for legal reasons. Oh yes, it's coming to that.
So, after receiving the certified letter reminding me that my loan was delinquent (nevermind the fact that I had been working with the bank on rectifying the whole situation), I called their special-toll-free number to yell at someone. Turns out they "automatically" send those out to everyone and anyone who falls under the delinquency period regardless of any active steps they may have taken to work on the situation. Well, great. This from a corporation with big bucks, and more big bucks from our President in order to help folks like me, but they can't get their $#*% together enough to program their computer to know who is working on a modification and who isn't. The person I spoke with advised me to just "ignore" it since it obviously didn't apply to me. Well, if their high-tech automated system is going to "automatically" send me these harrassing notices every month, does that mean that after a certain period of time, especially if I don't respond, they will also "automatically" send Marshalls to my house where I'll discover a huge padlock on my door?
UPDATE: 11-23-09
Because I wanted this whole ordeal to be over with, I called Chase again to find out the status of my request. Mind you, my original forbearnce plan was from April - July. I called in late July to let them know the paperwork to review my situation was on its way and I needed to know what to do about August's payment. I was told to go ahead and continue to pay the forbearance amount until I heard back from them. Good enough. However, because I didn't want to find out that I've "fallen through the cracks" or get in trouble for not following up, I (like an idiot, in retrospect) followed up at the end of October. In doing the math, I'd been on the forbearance plan for six months at this point with no word from Chase. And in bein proactive, I opened up a whole can of worms.
First of all, the moron I spoke to was more of a "collections" guy instead of a "modifications" guy. Due to the previous games of phone tag I'd gone through, I made sure to ask if the person on the other end if he/she was with the correct department. This guy said he was. I think he lied. I explained to him that I'd been working with a forbearance plan for six months and that I was just following up as to the status of my modification request. He asked me a few questions to see what kind of program I was qualified for. And then he went into "collections" mode. Immediately, he told me that I wasn't qualified because I wasn't making enough money (no DUH) and that I needed to cut back on expenses. I don't know what kind of expenses he was talking about other than food, utilities and HOA expenses but he seemed to think that I was living too high on the hog for my situation. I didn't need cable? Really? My cable company and internet provider are within the same group. No one can watch TV without a cable these days, and I don't even have good cable, I have basic. I can also argue that I need internet access for work. He was just going on and on and I didn't want to deal with him at this point. He was going to send me yet more paperwork to fill out and return. Deja vu.
Dealing with this clown bothered me so much, I decided to call my local Chase office (which is what I should have done in the first place, I know) to talk to a real, live human being. During the foreclosure seminar I attended, I met with a Chase representative who gave me her card so I called her number. Unfortunately, she was out on vacation but I spoke with another representative, Jim, who walked me through the (umpteenth) application process.
After getting all the necessary information, copies of the necessary information and files of the necessary information, I sent in the paperwork. Not two weeks later, I received a letter from Chase asking me to fill out their form (I've lost count at this point) and send it back. I called Jim and showed him the letter. He said to go ahead and fill that out as well. I already had all the info in triplicate, so it was easy.
I sent it in, fingers & toes crossed, hoping that all my efforts, all the diligence I've shown, would somehow clearly illustrate that I'm earnest at making this work. I received the latest correspondence from Chase dated November 11, 2009. My request for a modification has been declined due to the fact that "Borrower does not meet eligibility requirements." I was stumped.
I sent Jim a message telling him of the latest news, and still had not heard back. I guess my next recourse is seeking legal help. It it my wish that someone would audit Chase and find out what exactly their parameters are in qualifying someone for a modification. Do I need to make less money? Do I need to give up all my utilities, get kerosene lamps and get used to cold showers? Should I start sending my son to a soup kitchen? The whole thing is ridiculous and I'd really like to know what it would take in their eyes. I wonder if this is what President Obama had in mind.
Anyone ever have someone in their life that you know isn't good for you yet you found it hard to let go? Then, finally there was that straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak and you finally got rid of them and then life once again makes sense, the planets are aligned with Aquarius...and Mercury...and the total eclipse of the heart is just a mere bad memory? Well, this was my drama for the year (because I refuse to have anymore, dangit!). Fortunately, there was not a whole lot to it since I actually hadn't seen the person-in-question since last year (albeit in December), yet the drama continued. Why, do you ask? Well, the only explanation is that I allowed it to. I was one of those poor souls who thought if gave this particular person the benefit of the doubt, he'd live up to it....right? Wrong. And yes, I knew better bla bla bla...but still.
Sometimes we have to learn things the hard way, and as old as I am, I'm suprisingly still learning such things. I sensed that things were less-than-kosher since the beginning but my denial was already in full force. I wish I could explain why I just didn't see the light and act upon it sooner, but I can't. It's just one of those things.
However, the distance and the lack of communication were all to my benefit, in retrospect. How can you miss what you never had? How can you feel bad for what was never good? At one point when communications started up again, there was a fleeting moment of backsliding...I almost let myself believe that things could get better...that the recent happenings were just a setback. Thank God plans to see him again didn't pan out, because the extra time allowed me to come to my senses. Even the anticipation of seeing him again brought back all the "old" feelings....unfortunately, not all were good. All the anxiety and worry that isn't supposed to occur in any healthy relationship was back in full-force. This was not good. What was I thinking?! How would it be "bad" to cut my losses?
A no-brainer in retrospect, it was a difficult decision just a few months ago because there was always that nagging thought that maybe I was overreacting or reading things wrong. No doubt about it, there's a lot to be said for one's intuition. Your gut does not lie to you. Always trust it.
The postponed hook-up was revisited recently but instead of being the accommodating welcome mat that I had been, I decided that it wasn't worth it to me anymore to let this person manipulate me into thinking everything was fine. It was far from it. When someone makes you sick to the point that you lose a lot of weight, consider doing things that you know make you uncomfortable, and experience feelings just short of a serious anxiety-attack...that person is not worth your time nor effort. Just a little word to the wise.
Of course these megalomaniacs do not see any wrong in their own behavior. The person-in-question had NO idea why I had a change of heart...just completely flabbergasted him. He honestly believes that the world revolves around him and that people (apparently this has happened to others) should abide by his wishes and do things at his convenience. Funny how things don't actually work that way. I could have been more harsh, but I figure it probably wouldn't do much good to try and "put him in his place" so to speak.
I imagine he'll keep going on his merry way and piss off enough people so that someday, he'll realize he got exactly what he deserved. Unfortunately for some other poor soul out there, that day may not come soon enough.
I'm in the middle of re-reading this now, as I periodically do all of Austens novels every couple of years. Thought? Commentary?
I'm really aiming at a discussion of the text, but just to get things started, some thoughts on the recent S&S adaptation that was re-aired on PBS Masterpiece Classics last month:
Willoughby is my biggest problem with this adaptation. All in all, I do think this version is quite good. On a par with P&P -- since it is the same screenwriter, after all -- but, I know it's a sacrilege to say so, I'm very far from thinking Andrew Davies' vision of P&P is perfect. But that's for ANOTHER discussion topic.
I think the greatest virtues of this version are the casting of Elinor and its overall length, which gives more room to do the story justice. Unfortunately, the failings of the characterization of Willoughby almost undo the near perfection that is embodied by almost every other character: Elinor, Marianne, Mrs. Dashwood and Colonel Brandon, specifically.
This is not ALL the fault of casting, but let's be honest: Dominic Cooper is, sorry to say, a pathetic excuse for Willoughby. Greg Wise is by all means the most perfect execution of John Willoughby ever committed to film. BUT, let the blame lie where it belongs. Why in God's name Andrew Davies decided it would be a good idea to foreshadow so much of Willoughby's wickedness so early in the plot I will never understand, and leads me to wonder whether he really READ Jane Austen's words, and IF he did whether he undersood them. The whole POINT is that we, the readers, the viewers, are supposed to fall in love with Willoughby as Marianne is falling in love with him. We're supposed to buy his line of BS right along with Marianne and Elinor and Mrs. Dashwood and everyone else (except Brandon). In fact, Brandon is the ONLY one JA allows to speak a word against Willoughby before the ultimate revelation of his dastardliness--which btw comes by way of Brandon LATER ON.
That scene where Brandon takes him aside and
asks him what his intentions are toward Marianne (as if he's her
father!) is totally absurd and unnecessary! JA certainly thought so
since SHE never wrote it! And Dominic Cooper's reactions in that whole
scene make him completely unlikeable from that moment on. We are
suspicious of Willoughby so early that by the time Brandon's revelation
of his true character comes, it's anticlimactic! Seriously? Seriously.
Does Andrew Davies really think his take is better than Jane Austen's?
It's hubris! It's like rewriting Shakespeare!
All right, let's get a real discussion going here:
Mine has to be Willoughby. Jane Austen describes his physical attractiveness in the warmest terms she has ever used for any man: "uncommonly handsome"; "manly beauty and more than common gracefulness." He's physically active; he's a rider and a shooter. He's a take charge kind of man; he's a doer; AND he reads. And he does seem to be genuinely capable of feeling, which is what makes the most dangerous kind of bad boy because he's believable, but his finer qualities are not strong enough to overcome his weaknesses and by the time you figure it out, it's all over. Your heart is gone!
P.S. Dominic Cooper in the most recent adaption of Sense and Sensibility (screenplay by Andrew Davies, who did the 1995 P&P) is a totally anemic Willoughby. The best portrayal so far, hands down, has been Greg Wise in the Ang Lee feature film from 1995 (with Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet). He absolutely captured the essence of Willoughby and made you believe in him right along side Marianne.
This is not going to be a popular opinion. So I apologize now if this offends anyone. It isn't intended to. This is just my opinion.
I decided to read The Alchemist at Judy and Ethylene’s urging one fall when I was visiting Judy in Boston, and Ethylene had come up from New York for the day to hang out with us and go to dinner. I was a little obstinate about my reluctance when they both joined in the book’s praise, and I don’t really know why except that I had a vague idea of its somewhat banal message. I’m always very wary of any book that multitudes of people claim “changed their lives.” Plus, since I don’t read Portuguese, I can only read the English translation, and it’s difficult to assess a writer’s skill with words when you don’t read in his language. The translator’s style is simple with the intent of being profound, like Hemingway telling a fairy story. It’s very beautiful and cryptic and moving, which is what makes me distrust the merit of its writing. It’s the kind of story that leaves enough room for anyone – anyone – to read too much into its meaning, apply it to his own life, and justify his choices. Certainly it contains certain universal truths, which everyone thinks they understand, but if everyone really did, why are there so many people who are clinically depressed?
The Alchemist appeals to the romanticism in every human being, but most people do not live their lives this way. Everyone who reads The Alchemist wants to believe he is Santiago, and maybe he is. Maybe that’s the problem – or at least my problem. Santiago starts out following his quest for his Personal Legend and he is distracted by obstacles and worldly ambition and desires of the flesh. Ultimately I think most people are better able than I am at convincing themselves they have arrived at their Personal Legend in order to distract themselves from the truth that what they really want is something else but they’ve been too busy telling themselves they don’t really want that thing so they don’t have to deal with the disappointment of not getting it. Why else do people make up platitudes about “forbidden fruit?” Why should any fruit be forbidden?
Religious people make up excuses to comfort themselves for why God doesn’t answer their prayers. That He won’t give us what we “can’t handle” or “He will give us what we need not necessarily what we want” but that runs entirely counter to the idea of “free will” that Christians always preach.
It only took me two days to finish reading The Alchemist and it was just what I thought it would be. It told everything and nothing, but I can’t say whether it truly possesses any literary merit. It’s a good story. A fable. It should be told to children with beautiful illustrations. But it isn’t the sort of story that calls forth any truths for me. It doesn’t tell of the human experience. The experience. It uses vagaries, cryptic words to leave reader a whole lot of room to fill in the gaps, which is fine, but doesn’t impress me. Some people don’t think you can describe an experience for someone else but I think there is music and art and science in the way a writer puts words together, and they can make a reader say, “yes, I know what that feels like.” That’s what I strive for in my writing. This book didn’t really do that for me, but once or twice and always in connection with the boy’s interaction with a girl, first the merchant’s daughter, then Fatima. But the rest of it, the searching for treasure, the Personal Legend, the language of “the World,” it had no depth for me because it had no specificity. It’s like those fortune teller – con-artists – who tell you something so broad and open-ended it could apply to anyone but if you’re desperate enough to believe it’s about you, you’ll believe it.
I prefer work that has the courage to alienate some people in an effort to reach certain others rather than trying to be everything to everyone as if we’re all the same. Yes, we’re all connected – I do believe that – but it doesn’t mean we all have to read the same books.
You have four unexpected guests showing up for dinner in less than an hour, you haven't been to the store in days, and you want to impress them with a delicious meal. What do you serve them?
A bunch of Double-Doubles from In-N-Out which is just a stone's throw away from my house!
Eyeball!
Hey, this looks like the series premiere of Lost as the aforementioned eyeball belongs to none other than Jack. And, Jack is lying in the middle of the jungle just as he was when the plane first crashed. This time, however, he’s clutching a torn piece of paper that says “I wish…” So do I, paper, so do I. Admittedly, I didn’t see the series premiere when it first aired BUT I do have all the DVDs so I’ve more than made up for it, but for a moment, I seriously thought they were going to recycle this scene from that first episode. Talk about cutting corners. But, this wasn’t the case as while Jack was checking out his surroundings, he hears someone calling for help. That someone is Hurley. And, he’s in the lake using his guitar case as a floatation device. [Insert own joke here.] As Jack takes a high dive off a cliff and “saves” Hurley in what turned out to be knee-deep water (heh), they see a passed-out Khate on a rock. Because I know how much this show hates me, Khate was not dead, much, much to my chagrin. In fact, she didn’t have a scratch on her. Wow, Craphole Island really does heal all wounds.
Meanwhile, back on planet Earth, the gang prepares to meet Mrs. Hawking. As they gather in the parking lot, Benry, Jack and Sun are surprised to see Desmond walk from behind the shadows to join them. Hey, is this where the reunion is? Cool. Oddly, they’re all there to see Ellie and all her weirdness. Ah, we see where Daniel gets it from. After lighting a few candles in her church/lecture hall/lab, she takes the troops downstairs into an unknown abyss…or what’s just a glorified basement. With a Foucault’s Pendulum swinging in the middle of the room. Every brilliant, mad scientist’s wet dream, right? Sun, Jack and Desmond exchange strange glances as Eloise introduces the room/station/floor/scene as The Lamp Post. Eloise continues to explain how they need to get back to the island and bring as much of the 06 with them as possible. Desmond, however, won’t hear of it. He thinks she’s crazy and asserts that he’s done with the island as far as he’s concerned. Meanwhile, I’m on the edge of my seat for fear that my pretty, pretty Desmond is going to get clocked by the giant swinging pendulum he somehow manages to avoid! Whew.
Back in the sanctuary, Ben again manages to avoid getting struck by lightning and looks like he’s actually praying. And lighting candles! Jealous that Jack has become teacher Eloise’s pet and kept him after class to explain the contents of a binder she handed him, Benry tries to drive the point home that he needs to get the 06 back to the island to help the others. Well, not necessarily the Others others, but the others others. Although the Others others might also be in danger considering we hadn’t seen flight attendant Cindy & the kids in eons. Ah, who knows!
In a really weird, out-of-context scene, Jack gets called to a retirement home to retrieve some mysterious person and prevent him from running away. After calling this said person by his first name (Ray), he suddenly switches to calling him by his real name, “Gramps/Grandpappy/Grampy” or whatever the Shephard men call their paternal grandfather when not addressing him by his first name. Conveniently, the Senior Shephard has a pair of shoes that once belonged to Christian. Verrrrry interesting. And how convenient that it’s exactly what Jack needed to fulfill his “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” to include in Locke’s casket prior to the funeral. Except he needed something of Christian’s.
Jack goes home and proceeds to look for the booze. Hell, I’d have stopped off at the Quik-E-Mart and picked up a few just to be sure. Anyway, he sensed something creepy and weird in his house and conveniently finds Khate all weird and glassy-eyed sprawled out on his bed. Where’s Aaron? Who cares?! And if he asks her about that again, Khate is never evah gonna speak to him again. Think about it, Jack! But no. Boom chick-a-bow-bow. Excuse me while I barf.
The next morning, a beaten and bloodied Benry calls Jack and asks him to do a favor and get John out of the deep freeze and bring him to the airport. Because Jack is such a great friend and good sport, he obliges. Khate, on the other hand, can’t wait to get out of his house and pretend she doesn’t know him. That’s gratitude for ya. Stupid Khate. Even more stupider Jack.
And, in some frustratingly inexplicable plot twist, Sun, Khate, Hurley (huh?), Sayid (+ personal marshall), Benry and Jack all happen to be at the airport, boarding the same flight, going to the same destination, all for the same reason. But because this show continues to frustrate, we don’t know why/how they all got there, especially Hurley (just be glad he’s there) and Sayid….except I think somehow the marshall attached to his wrist has something to do with it. But do we get an explanation? Hell no, that would be too logical and actually make sense. And that’s not what this show is all about. Geez!
Also on board is some mysterious guy who people are speculating is a plant of Widmore’s or some other ne’er-do-well, a beaten Benry who finds time to casually read Ulysses, and our very own cleanly shaved and scrubbed Frank Lapidus! as the pilot. Of course, Jack demands a meeting with the pilot and once Frank gets a glimpse of his passengers, he cleverly surmised that they weren’t really going to go to Guam, were they? Heh, I missed Frank and glad he’s back. Also, Jack finally reads the goodbye letter Locke had written him. Oh Jack, why must you be such a big drama queen?
Turbulence. Flash. Boom – eyeball. And, we’re back to the opening scene. Ah, now it makes sense. That wasn’t the first time the Losties crashed…it was the second. Oy! And the partial note Jack was clutching was John’s letter saying he wished Jack had believed him. Poor Locke, of all the things to have Jack do. You should have known better. For some other inexplicable reason (GRRR!!), we don’t see any of the other passengers…not right now, anyway. Jack, Khate and Hurley look up to the sound of a roaring engine. No, it’s not Smokey. It’s a brand, spanking new Dharma slug bug van! In it is a worker in a brown Dharma uniform toting a rifle. As it is carefully aimed at the ReLosties, their faces turn to surprise…the gun toter is none other than our very own Jin. And Jin is rockin’ that ‘70’s perm Mike and Greg Brady did back in the day. Coinky dink? I think not. Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait until next time to find out what happens next. Same bat-time. Same bat-channel.
