Library Notes
August 28, 2004
By Pansy Hundley, Librarian.
If you are all sufficiently seeped in the history of Pompeii. If you feel confident about writing your report on it, we’ll wind up the last of our information about it. There may have been enough interest generated by now that you want to continue your own further study about Pompeii. But, if that’s all you want to know on that subject, that’s okay too.
Many of the people who were caught in this catastrophe, were somewhat preserved in all of the ash, the lava, all that covered them.
In one area, for instance, an area that is called "The Orchard of The Fugitives", discovered in 1961 behind the portico of a rustic house with an orchard, were thirteen victims of the eruption. Casts were made of these people, in the position in which they were found, some of them with a look of horror on their faces, their expressions frozen in time. Eighteen victims were found in another location and even a dog, caught in his last position, as he was overtaken by the same awful thing that probably killed this master.
Amid all the destruction of so many buildings in this town of Pompeii, stands the remains of The Temple of Apollo.
This temple had already existed in the Samnite epoch and was later dedicated to Apollo (6th Century). During the Imperial period substantial modifications were made according to the architectural and decorative concepts of the time.
"At the top of the stairs there is a Corinthian colonnade of six columns along the front, and the entrance to the "cella", the innermost part of the temple where the images of the divinity were kept. As we turn back before descending the stairs, observe the arcade in front, and the bronze statues of Apollo to the left, Diana to the right. These are copies; the originals are housed in the Museo Archeologico in Naples."
I believe that Apollo will bring us to the end of our travels. There is so much more that could be told about Greece and Italy, as you well know. But, rather than "beat a good horse to death" or "run it in the ground and break it off", as my Dad would say, I should bring my – our – travels to a close. Do you reckon I might be able to find something else to talk about now? Just think, you haven’t heard about my daily/weekly troubles for a couple of months. And, you think, surely something has happened to give me problems. Yeah, Buddy! Just wait. But, for now, rather than tempt you with a book, this week, let me share with you something that came to me on the computer that is very thought-provoking, as far as progress and such are concerned:
BORN BEFORE 1945?
If you were born before 1945, you are a survivor. Consider the changes you have witnessed. You were born before televisions, penicillin. Polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox, plastic, contact lenses, Frisbees, and "the pill". You were before radar, credit cards, split-atoms, laser beams, and ball point pens: before pantyhose, dishwashers, clothes dryers, electric blankets, air-conditioners, drip-dry clothes, and before man walked on the moon.
Back then, folks got married first and then lived together.
Bunnies were small rabbits, and rabbits were not Volkswagens.
You were before house husbands, gay rights, computer dating, dual careers, and computer marriages. You were before daycare centers, group therapy, and nursing homes. You never heard of FM radio, tape decks, electronic typewriters, artificial hearts, word processors, yogurt, and guys wearing earrings. For you, time-sharing meant togetherness…not computers or condominiums. A chip meant a piece of woods. Hardware meant hardware, and software was not even a word.
Pizzas, McDonald’s and instant coffee were unheard of.
You hit the scene when there were five and dime stores, where you bought things for a nickel or dime. For one nickel you could ride the bus, make a phone call, buy a Pepsi or enough stamps to mail one letter and two postcards. You could buy a new Chevy Coupe for $600, but who could afford one? A pity, too, because gas was 11 cents a gallonl
In your day, "grass" was something you mowed, "coke" was a cold drink, and "pot" was something you cooked in. Rock music was grandma’s lullaby.
Back then, respect for authority was the norm, schools had prayer every morning, the number one problem in school was chewing gum in class and most people stayed married. You could leave doors unlocked, children in the yard, and a man’s word was as good as a contract.
When you talk about the "good old days" young people laugh, but we must remember, they were not born before 1945.
"Reprinted from the "Houston Hospice Happenings", September 1995.