Notes

2007 - Recently widowed Mavis, (82), informed me that she had decided to sell her home and move. She told me that the water in her basement last February, 2007 did her in. She thought her life was over. She does not know how I have handled my situation this long. (Property plat that illustrates Mavis Lacaria's property).

This brought me back to a partial thought from 2003; The DEP statement;" This happens to older people usually after a spouse passes away, most of the time it is a widow in this position"

Cancellation

Our European friends were heavily experienced in international travel business and related acquaintances. My wife and I would listen as our friend would glowingly describe West Virginia's' beauty along with the cultural aspects of the people of West Virginia and it's hidden potential. They were enamored and in that regard were creating an interest for other prominent business individuals to visit our state, which now was reflective of the United States. He was creating a funnel of interest to our region through us. We felt a great responsibility and put forth great efforts to accommodate this interest.

The event in Italy, (2005) was behind us and the Austrian rally was coming to an end and discussions of a future 2007 Hungarian event was being ironed out. We were informed that few Americans were known in the Hungarian area where the event was to take place, as such it would be great if Americans arrived in an American Car from the 1950's to join in a planned Hungarian Rally. The Hungarian transition away from communism to democracy was turning out quite the capitalists, the people of Hungary were happy with their new found freedom.

However, It would be the third trip for us and I had no desire to go. My wife and I had been dealing with our own egregious Geo-Political interests since 2003. It was now 2007 and I was physically hurt and strained in that regard. To put on a smiling face and still be "unofficial ambassadors" that were presenting a false political image of West Virginia was difficult, if not plain wrong. I informed or friends that we would have to cancel of 2007 participation in the Hungarian event. His natural exuberance required me to explain why. Somewhat embarrassed, I related a few of the issues we had been dealing with since 2003.

European Shock

Our acquaintances decided to take a trip to West Virginia instead. While at our home he and his wife viewed two video clips of water drainage issues we had been dealing with for years. He was curious and wanted to see the current issue---the property line with Platinum Properties.

A former World Wide Sales Chief from Daimler Mercedes Corporation in Stuttgart Germany could not believe the constructive attempts that were taking place were even allowed, yet alone the original construction.

He stood at the crest of the slope; "In Germany when someone wants to build a structure, they first get approval from the adjoining landowners"

"Once construction begins, if something is wrong, the local authority would stop work until it is corrected and if something like this occurred, a judge would order the building torn down and the fill removed".

The role of attorneys within the Geo-Political arena was mentioned.

"Germany also has attorneys; attorneys would not matter in such a situation."

"This is something that could occur in an Eastern European country, not in America; This is America, this is not proper behavior".

(The proximate time of the above, within the written log, is mentioned here).

The situational comparison to an eastern European country was sobering and the contradictions too great, thus the promotion of West Virginia's hidden, (business), potential ended with a thud. In addition to the unmentionable, all the time, work and finances we put forth to accommodate this said potential was adrift and likely over.

Mr. Kennedy's Environmental Observations in 2011 were eye opening; aspects relative to our situation apparent.

Positive aspects:

In 2003, the initial aid extended by various West Virginians to foreign travelers sparked a personal friendship with our family. Their past experience and international acquaintances coupled with the fondness for West Virginia, as he stated, "West Virginia is unique" had created a rare opportunity to put our state in a positive light. They have taken my wife and I places he believes few Americans have been before. Through letters and words, he has expressed the regards of some of the people we have met.

“I would have to make a list of the people who send their regards"

“They want to know when the Americans are coming back."

"You have represented your country well, they love you. You are from America, so they love America” (Eastern Europe).

“Some have never seen Americans before", (Eastern Europe).

“They were pleased by the respect shown towards the historic and cultural aspects of their country; they ask permission to air parts of your video on their stations for their tourism industry".

Eastern Europe, eager for anything American; my wife placing her American Flag pin on the lapel of a Hungarian citizen, the man’s genuinely appreciative eyes tearing up. We have felt larger scale initial scrutiny quickly change to perceptible fondness.

Humbling is the fact that the geographical location of our home in West Virginia had become a focal point of international interest, our family viewed as representative of our state.

The realization that our rescheduled 2008 Hungarian trip made quite an impact. We have been informed that our names show up in hundreds of European searches. Our other cross-linked website that covered these unique encounters was idled in 2009 and ended in 2013 for understandable reasons. However, from idle to it's end, the site averaged 4500 to 5000 unique visitors from over 41 countries a month.

Difficult to explain aspects:

We attended, participated, and in some cases, represented our country in events that were held in Italy, Austria, Germany and Hungary. During our time in Hungary we learned first hand what the people endured under previous forms of government/s. The lack or manipulation of property rights and the embedded results in that regard. The flipside; our embarrassment by the fact that our property in America was at risk because in regard to similar thought processes within our democracy.

The balancing of my career along with hobby and construction interests and implementations coupled to the now phrased "West Virginia Bavarian Connection". The assistance to an elderly relative with their pre 2008 drainage issue and another elderly relative with their post 2007 drainage issues. Distraction, fatigue; obligations cancelled, etc... More is not within the scope of this presentation.

The basis for this documentary "It Was The Worst Of Times" began in 2003, as did the "West Virginia Bavarian Connection" story. Both created International Attention at various times. Both stories are polar opposites for the State of West Virginia. One diminished the positive impact of the other and has become a curiosity of singular interest.

"A Societal Breakdown"

During, October of 2011 on-site examinations and record searches were performed by an internationally renowned professional. At the time conditions garnered a truly objective observation; "A Societal Breakdown"

A much larger Deteriorating Slope and it's Associative retention Pond, garnered its' own objective observation; "This is Not American Engineering"