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This morning when I went outside I saw an envelope in my mail box.
Not unusual you say.

The letter was mailed from my address in Ensenada Baja California to Mexico City Mex.

It has a dated airmail stamp on it and the letter inside has the same date on it. Yes I opened it and read it.

Why?

The date is August 16 1982.

I wish this letter could tell me where it has been for 28 years and how did it get back to this address sometime between 10 pm last night and 8 am this morning.

This house has been in the same family for at least 5 generations.
The part of the family that owns this house I have known for 10 years.
I called them this morning and they did not know the names of the sender or the person it was supposed to be sent to so the mystery deepens.

What did the letter say you ask..
It was a request for the loan of $500,000.00 pesos to buy a bed and kitchen table.

More spirits at work??????

Originally Posted by Gruñón

This morning when I went outside I saw an envelope in my mail box.
Not unusual you say.

The letter was mailed from my address in Ensenada Baja California to Mexico City Mex.

It has a dated airmail stamp on it and the letter inside has the same date on it. Yes I opened it and read it.

Why?

The date is August 16 1982.

I wish this letter could tell me where it has been for 28 years and how did it get back to this address sometime between 10 pm last night and 8 am this morning.

This house has been in the same family for at least 5 generations.
The part of the family that owns this house I have known for 10 years.
I called them this morning and they did not know the names of the sender or the person it was supposed to be sent to so the mystery deepens.

What did the letter say you ask..
It was a request for the loan of $500,000.00 pesos to buy a bed and kitchen table.

Originally Posted by Gruñón

It was a request for the loan of $500,000.00 pesos to buy a bed and kitchen table.

In 1982, if I recall correctly, the Peso was around 3800 to one. That makes the amount about 138 dollars.
Will you be sending them cash or a check?

Originally Posted by DENNIS

In 1982, if I recall correctly, the Peso was around 3800 to one. That makes the amount about 138 dollars.
Will you be sending them cash or a check?

I was thinking it was about 350 X 1 but could not find any data on it.

I think I will hold off on the check/cash until I find out if they have a bed yet.

I went for a walk this morning and could not find anyone that remembered the name on the letter.

Originally Posted by Gruñón

I was thinking it was about 350 X 1 but could not find any data on it.

You may be right. They didn't go to the New Peso until around 1992. It may have still been stuck on 08 cents US in '82.
I'll have to look into this.....after a trip to Sharkey's.

Originally Posted by DENNIS

You may be right. They didn't go to the New Peso until around 1992. It may have still been stuck on 08 cents US in '82.
I'll have to look into this.....after a trip to Sharkey's.

No I am not right or at least in 1990 which is as far back as I can find records it was $2695 X $1.

http://www.tititudorancea.com/z/fx_mxn_20090817.htm

Mexican Peso (MXN) Exchange Rates
for 2009-08-17

Monday, August 17th, 2009

USD US Dollar 0.07686 13.00988 0.07701 12.985 0.07684 13.01392

They probably froze to death for want of a warm bed to sleep in or starved to death for want of a table to eat off of!

What is Mexican law on opening mail not addressed to you? The STAMP is probably worth more today than the amount of the original request!

Look on the bright side! At least you didn't get a "Postage Due" notice with it!

Originally Posted by longlegsinlapaz

http://www.tititudorancea.com/z/fx_mxn_20090817.htm

Mexican Peso (MXN) Exchange Rates
for 2009-08-17

Monday, August 17th, 2009

USD US Dollar 0.07686 13.00988 0.07701 12.985 0.07684 13.01392

They probably froze to death for want of a warm bed to sleep in or starved to death for want of a table to eat off of!

What is Mexican law on opening mail not addressed to you? The STAMP is probably worth more today than the amount of the original request!

Look on the bright side! At least you didn't get a "Postage Due" notice with it!

The letter law is the same one that is enforced for all other mex. laws.

It is a stamp not a Stamp. Meaning it is stamped with ink pad and rubber [?] stamp.

I am trying to understand the meaning of your posting of the august 2009 exchange in relation to the August 1982
exchange.

I did find that in August 13 1982 all the dollar bank accounts of you furrners were frozen and exchanged at the rate of 69 X 1.

I say we take up a collection and buy these poor folks a bed and table. They've been sleeping on the floor for 28 years for God's sake...

Originally Posted by BajaGringo

I say we take up a collection and buy these poor folks a bed and table. They've been sleeping on the floor for 28 years for God's sake...

I agree.
Send the cash to me and I will hold it until I can find the poor people. .

I'm still looking for something concise and specific to 1982, but here some Peso/Dollar info:

International Economics - Historial Exchange Rate Regime of Asian Countries

I found a source that gives a pretty detailed account of Mexico's economic history at that time including the exchange rate. It was a period of high inflation. It looks like the exchange rate ran from around 50 to 150 in 1982, meaning that 500,000 pesos would be somewhere between $3,333 to 10,000 USD.

Sounds like they wanted to buy some very nice furniture...

Historia del Mercado de Cambios en México

Originally Posted by Gruñón

I am trying to understand the meaning of your posting of the august 2009 exchange in relation to the August 1982 exchange.

I guess I can't plead that was before I had my coffee, huh? Well, gee, that'll learn me to make sure I GOT what I ASKED FOR before I post it!ops: I was in a historical date sub-section &....oh never mind my excuses....I plead insanity for the information I originally posted! My head hurts!


PS Since BG is no longer lost, how about we re-earmark the ransom fund that bahiafalsia collected to buy BG back to a new old furniture fund?

Originally Posted by BajaGringo

I found a source that gives a pretty detailed account of Mexico's economic history at that time including the exchange rate. It was a period of high inflation. It looks like the exchange rate ran from around 50 to 150 in 1982, meaning that 500,000 pesos would be somewhere between $3,333 to 10,000 USD.

Sounds like they wanted to buy some very nice furniture...

Historia del Mercado de Cambios en México

Glad we got that settled. I have been worried about how much money they did not get 28 years ago.

This has been a long day with nothing to do but worry about this after I finished the laundry.

So we have the value of a six pack donated to the fund as seed. I will donate a 30 year old set of king size tie-died sheets and a semi-working lava lamp for their new bedroom.

Somebody needs to go to work tracking these folks down so they can collect on their coming good fortune once the rest of you get onboard...