When we read an obituary of someone we once knew, or a famous (or infamous) person who may in some way have been important to us, it’s natural to think about that person’s life, and how they are likely to be remembered.

I believe it’s safe to say that most of us would like to think we’ll be missed, and recalled with fondness for the good we have done in our lives rather than the mistakes we’ve made. But sadly, there are a great many — and let’s not mince words here — truly rotten people in this world, who have, for a wide variety of reasons, knowingly caused nothing but harm and misery to others.

The notice of the death in prison of CIA turncoat Aldrich Ames, 84, on Monday of this week brought to mind one man’s vision of the fate awaiting such people:

“The wretch, concentred all in self,
Living, shall forfeit fair renown,
And, doubly dying, shall go down
To the vile dust, from whence he sprung,
Unwept, unhonored, and unsung.”

– Sir Walter Scott, The Lay of the Last Minstrel

For those “wretches” of whom Scott wrote, there could be no worse fate than to depart this world “unwept, unhonored, and unsung.”

And for those of us who have fallen victim to their iniquity during their lifetimes, there can be no greater satisfaction.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
1/7/26

NOTE: In case anyone thinks I missed the grammatical error in Sir Walter Scott’s quote — “from whence” — I didn’t. I tried very hard to ignore it, but in the end, I kept hearing my long-ago English teachers saying “Really? From whence?”

Habits of a lifetime . . .