HAPPY 40th, IGAL INSIDER! by Mike Djordjevich (USA)

People celebrate a wide variety of customs, remembrances, behaviors, causes, historical events and the like. We don’t question the necessity or, frankly, the meaning or the relevance of many of them. C’est la vie!

The most intriguing ones, at least for me, are the commemorations related to numbers: anniversaries, birthdays, years, centuries, millenniums.

New Year’s Eve leading into 2000, when we thought the world was going to end, still resonates with me. It highlighted our human frailties, fears, superstitions; it showed us how easily we can be manipulated and scared.

So, what does any of this have to do with the IGAL INSIDER. To be honest: everything and nothing.

This is our 40th edition. 

To remember the Greek historian, Herodotus, who 2500 years ago said “Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these courageous couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” 

Beverley Leonache, Alexandre Koerfer and your editor are the courageous couriers who make sure there is an issue delivered to your e mail box on time each month. That usually happens between the 1st and 5th of every month (or, haven’t you noticed?); there are five articles in each issue; our photos are intended to give you a visual of what is to come. There is a lot of time, effort and personal sacrifice which go into it. 

Beverley has risen up to the task during difficult times in her life; Alexandre has worked diligently during holidays and your editor, being on the other side of the world, mandates that this is done pretty much in the wee hours of the morning. C’est la vie, again!

And, that is to say nothing about coming up with the content. I mean, aside from many other topics, we try to guide you in buying shoes, raincoats and drying your hair. 

All of this is an effort. We have issued 40 of your IGAL INSIDERS so far without interruption, made it through Covid and other maladies. We plan to continue in the same vein.

For those of you who read us: thank you; for those of you who don’t: shame on you; for those of you who submit articles: you are in the running for the Space Needle Award; for those of you who compliment us: we love you!

See you in the next issue.