22 SEPTEMBER 2022 WorldWide Drilling Resource® The “Idiots” Corner by “Billy Bob Smith” Ever have someone, an ex-spouse, boss, neighbor, or even a total stranger, put a curse on you? Don’t believe in curses? They are just the whimsical beliefs of idiots! Well, maybe yes and maybe no, but are you willing to be a disbeliever if at some point in your life someone put a curse on you and you didn’t even know it? “Come on Billy Bob . . . I enjoy your column, but don’t you think you are going a bit over the edge with this one?” Okay - you are a nonbeliever so keep reading - my goal is not to change your mind but ask you - are you willing to consider just maybe they are possible? A curse is defined as: A solemn utterance intended to invoke a supernatural power to inflict harm or punishment on someone or something. My definition: A negative interpretation of behavior, action, or outcome caused by others or another person or group that you don’t feel you deserve or earned. Your definition: ________________________________________ Here are a few quotes before we dig into the weeds . . . ”Work is the curse of the drinking classes.” ~Oscar Wilde “Every blessing ignored becomes a curse.” ~Paulo Coelho “Naturally curly hair is a curse, and don't ever let anyone tell you different.” ~Mary Ann Shaffer Kennedy curse: Kennedy curse refers to a series of deaths, accidents, and other calamities involving members of the American Kennedy family. How about . . . 0 The Curse of La Llorona - (Also known as The Curse of the Weeping Woman in some markets) is a 2019 American supernatural horror film directed by Michael Chaves. 0 Curse of the Pharaohs - A curse alleged to be cast upon anyone who disturbs the mummy of an Ancient Egyptian, especially a pharaoh. 0 Curse of Tippecanoe - (Also known as Tecumseh's Curse or the 20-Year Presidential Curse) is the alleged pattern of deaths in the office of presidents. 0 Curse of the Bambino - A superstitious sports curse evolving from the failure of Major League Baseball Team Boston Red Sox to win the World Series. Here are a few curses you may not be aware of . . . The Curse of the Knights Templar - Everyone knows about the superstition about Friday the 13th being unlucky, but few know where this originates. In the early 14th century, Ing Philip of France was displeased with the Knights Templar funding his war against the English and did not want to pay it back. So on Friday, October 13, 1307, King Philip, in collusion with Pope Clement V, launched a surprise attack, bringing about their ultimate destruction. However, the king did not escape retribution. Jacques de Molay, the leader of the Knights, was imprisoned and tortured for seven years and ultimately burned at the stake. Before his public execution, de Molay cursed the King and the Pope to die quickly and further cursed the House of Capet family to destruction. Sure enough, within a year, both Pope Clement V and King Philip had both died mysteriously. Furthermore, all 3 of King Philip’s sons died within the next few years, as did his only male grandchild. As a result of that, the French crown went to the House Valois, bringing an end to the reign of House Capet. To this day, Friday the 13th is still considered an unlucky day. Broken Mirror Curse - Almost everyone has heard that breaking a mirror dooms you to seven years of bad luck. This curse has its origins in Ancient Rome. The Romans believed that the human soul would renew every seven years, repairing whatever damage they had suffered during that time. They also thought a mirror’s reflection was a way to look into the soul. If you break a mirror, you break apart your soul, which would have to go through a seven-year cycle to renew. Until your soul achieves renewal, you would endure misfortune because of your broken soul. Curse Dolls - Much like the infamous Voodoo dolls, ancient Romans would use miniature dolls as effigies of their targets to instill curses upon them. They sometimes used curse dolls in conjunction with a curse tablet, and other times used dolls by themselves. The dolls were generally lead or bronze. To be an effective curse doll, it had to meet certain criteria: Curse dolls served the same purpose as curse tablets, but would not always employ explicit directions or be addressed to a particular deity. Let’s wrap this up before someone puts a curse on me. Ever felt cursed? Wanted to give someone else a curse? Well, my advice is to keep looking over your shoulder as you go through each day. That’s Billy Bob’s Official Guidance. Please laugh. Billy Bob Contact him via e-mail to michele@worldwidedrillingresource.com “There was no such thing as curses. People make and break their own fortunes - they are the masters of their own fate.” Ally Carter Thank you Ronnie for your continued support of the water well industry. Lindell Peters Lang Well Drilling, Inc. Enid, OK
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