(written by Terry MacNeil, on September 4-5, 2026)

Earlier this year, my aunt gave me a bunch of beer coasters (and a lot of books) that had belonged to my dead uncle (a Catholic priest). I didn’t pay much attention to the beer coasters, though I put them in a box for safekeeping – at the time, I was more focused on looking up various authors (mostly on Wikipedia) of the INTERESTING books I had chosen to add to my collection. And then I pretty much forgot about the beer coasters.

A few days ago, I was moving some shit around in our “computer room” – and one of the beer coasters fell on the floor, right in front of me. And I noticed most of the beer coaster was covered in messy doodling – but it ALSO had “ERIC HOBSBAWM HISTORY OF THE 20TH CENTURY” written on it (in all capitalized letters). For those who don’t know – Eric Hobsbawm was a Marxist historian (a well-known and respected one as well – even anti-Marxists seemed to be able to appreciate some of his books). From what I can tell, Hobsbawm hated anarchists – but I have a bunch of Hobsbawm’s books in my collection, and I intend to read them in the coming years. As for the book the beer coaster referred to – it is clearly Hobsbawm’s The Age of Extremes: A History of the World, 1914-1991. And that is considered his book that covers the history of the 20th century – what certain historians/economists/sociologists/etc call “The Short Twentieth Century” (which encompasses the start of WWI to the collapse of the USSR) though there’s others who speak of “The Long Twentieth Century” (which is supposed to encompass the duration of the American Empire). Anyway, I own a copy of that very Hobsbawm book (I was exceptionally pleased to have found a copy of it over a decade ago, at my favourite used bookstore. Though I must point out – that used bookstore is my favourite STORE of any kind, period. Also, I’m convinced the spirit of my uncle wanted me to take notice of that beer coaster.

At first, I assumed it was my uncle who had written on the beer coaster. But when I showed the beer coaster to my aunt, she said it wasn’t his handwriting. My aunt said my uncle liked to collect beer coasters at restaurants – and that the beer coaster may have been used by previous customers at whatever restaurant he ate/drank at. My Mom’s theory, is that my uncle had been at the restaurant with a friend or acquaintance, who recommended the book to my uncle. Both my aunt and my Mom said my uncle had no interest in reading about Marxism (though he did admire Che Guevara, my uncle was a committed social-democrat). And social-democrats hate capitalism – but they want to regulate it, not abolish it. But I digress.

As for “signs” made by “people” who have died? I’m convinced I’ve been given signs by spirits in the past – but I’m the only one who thinks they were signs. I’m also convinced that when a spirit gives you a sign – it will NOT look like a sign to every other living human on Earth. The sign is meant for you alone – and if you tell other people about the sign, they’ll assume you’re either insane or simply a naive and superstitious “New Age” fool.

It’s been a number of years since my uncle died – and I ASSUME he hasn’t been reincarnated yet. Do I think my uncle wants me to read Hobsbawm’s book ASAP? No. I think my uncle wanted to make his presence known (to me) – just a friendly reminder that he’s watching over myself and my family (for now). Yeah, that sounds corny – but I ASSUME that’s the way (many of) the recently deceased operate. And the timing of my uncle’s sign is interesting – my anxiety’s been VERY high lately, because I expect my house’s basement to flood soon. Ⓐ