The Ultimate Answer to Kings: T, RIP

They say that Louis XIV had the inscription Ultima Ratio Regum cast into all the cannon of the French Army. It means "The Ultimate Argument of Kings," and that always struck me as one of the most honest and up-front things any ruler or would-be ruler ever said. "We can dress it up prettier than this, but when it comes down to the unvarnished truth this is what it's about: You'll do as I say or I'll send my goons to kill you."

I thought about that for a long time. If there's an ultimate argument, it seems only logical that there must be an ultimate answer. For years I thought the ultimate answer must be the bullets in my rifle, but it never seemed quite right. I've got bullets - he's got frigging Cannon Balls. I mean, if there were three hundred million rifles throwing bullets at him, then maybe. But we all know that's not going to happen. So if there's an ultimate answer to his ultimate argument, it sure as hell ain't bullets.

It finally came to me - and that's when I left the city, abandoned a goodly percentage of my goods, and gave all that was behind me a good, stiff Randian Shrug.

The ultimate answer to kings is not a bullet, but a belly laugh.

Friday, April 3, 2009

T, RIP

Beloved Husband & Father...and Friend.
And a nice motherfucker.

Blessings and peace be upon you.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...: Miss you, T. We all still think of you and laugh fondly at stories about you. You were a living legend.

Blessings and peace be upon you.; April 3, 2009 at 4:07 PM
C.M. said...: One day, if you are inclined, at a more appropriate time, please explain the Nice MF'er part, I sense a good story.

Real friends are hard to come by in this world, my condolences on your and your adopted family's loss.; April 4, 2009 at 6:56 AM
Joel said...: T. was in poor health and knew he wouldn't get very old. He had specific ideas concerning his interment and let us know what they were. We followed them as close to the letter as possible.

Everything on the stone, including the epitaph and the middle-finger salute, were in accordance with his instructions.

(Tee hee - you want to make a monument-carver's face really red? We ended up using ... unusual ... channels to acquire that stone. He'd have been proud.); April 4, 2009 at 10:13 AM

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Friday, April 3, 2009

T, RIP

3 comments:

Why the hell did you scroll all the way down here?