The World Is Over Already

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The world is over already.

From my balcony that overlooks
the sea, the mountains, and the city,
I see
the world is over already.

“We only get to live once,” the first man said. “More accurately, we only get to pretend to live once,” the second man said. “Not us,” the third man said. “We don’t get to live, not even once.”

“We are but memories,” the first man said. “More accurately, we are only until we’re forgotten,” the second man said. “Not us,” the third man said. “We are erased, remembering things without traces.”

Death is silence.
Our silence is different.
Our silence is the noise they no longer hear.

Death is sleep.
Our sleep is different.
Our sleep is eternal, yet we keep on snoring.

This piece was originally published on September 21, 2026 on Substack.

Revisiting Lebanese Wines: Chateau Kefraya Les Exceptions Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

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Name: Chateau Kefraya Les Exceptions Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Type: Red Wine
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon
Year: 2016
Country: Lebanon
Region: Bekaa Valley
Date Consumed: September 5, 2026

Every time we visit Château Kefraya, we try at least one bottle from their Les Exceptions series. The main reason is simple: we can’t find Les Exceptions bottles anywhere else. So this time, and for a second time, we tried the single-varietal Cabernet Sauvignon from 2016, and my first impression was just… wow. Last time we had it was back in 2024.

In the glass, the wine has a deep ruby color, with brick-red tinges around the rim and a noticeable amount of sediment. The first sip introduces a harmony of dark fruit, licorice, cedarwood, and tobacco. The finish is long, leaving behind secondary notes of leather and black pepper.

After my wife and I emptied the bottle, I spent a moment wondering whether I should take one home. But our energetic 18-month-old toddler and restless dog made me forget all about it.