CARPE DIEM TO YOU, TOO -- First Friday with Rita Lakin

I’m sure by now, probably thanks to Robin Williams in The Dead Poet’s Society movie where the term Carpe Diem came into the public eye, it’s now a fairly well known expression amongst the literati.

I have on occasion used the expression as kind of a rousing morning cheer meaning get going, don’t waste time. It worked sometimes and not others. If I didn’t feel like writing that day, no old Latin words would spur me on. Especially since I never studied Latin. Though I always appreciated how many words had come from the Latin.

But for the sake of this and through laziness, since I have other fish to fry these days, I wikipediaed (new verb) the expression. And learned, as many of you know, that Horace used it in a poem. As did Ovid. But I got sidetracked for a few seconds. Horace who? Ovid who? You mean there were never any other Horaces and Ovids around in those days? Didn’t proud papas who were named Ovid, want their sons to be Ovid Jr. And if three sons were they Jr. Jr2 Jr3. I can just imagine mama shouting out the window. “Ovid, come home for lunch,” and 256 Ovids show up. Could be so confusing.

As you can see, I tend to lose track when I do research. It’s like the jokes they make about seniors (and what I am doing here right now). I go into the kitchen for a glass of water, but on the way I see the needle and thread I didn’t put back in the sewing box, so as I take them however, my eyes are caught by the open book I’ve been reading, so I stop to peruse. However my mind is caught by a crumpled piece of paper under the recliner. I pick it up to take to the trash, but am curious to see what I was throwing away, and it’s a bill for PG and E, that I forgot to pay, so I go to look for my checkbook, etc. etc. You all been there, done that. Ending with what the hell was I going to do in the first place?

What does this have to do with Carpe Diem. Not too much other that doing research is a little like that.

Anyway back to Carpe Diem. Good old Wiki P gave me 44 quotes along the same lines. I didn’t realize that it wasn’t just a rallying cry for action, it is more of a threat. Horrors. Or should I say Horace. He went on to mean that one should pay little trust in the future.  Woe is me. Remember that we are mortal. And Ovid seconded the motion. Then John Keats had to get into the act, he translated it. He said, “Carpe Diem. Seize the Day.” A major contribution.

When the poet, Robert Herrick told some virgins to “…gather ye rosebuds while ye may…” he wasn’t saying have a nice day. He was saying “That same flowers Smiling today. Tomorrow will be dying.” Swell. Ruined their day.

Here’s a few of the 44. 

"Live every day as if it were your last. Some day you’ll be right." HH “Breaker” Morant.

"Go for it. The future is promised to no one." Wayne Dyer. (nice last name works here)

"Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today." James Dean. who apparently followed his own advice.

My own personal favorite:   "First You Dream. Then you die." Cornell Woolrich. He lived with his mother all his life in one hotel room together. No wonder he was depressed!

A close second favorite: "Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart." Erma Bombeck.

Anyway you can look the others up. They are all dire threat that you damn well better Carpe Diem while you can. Do you Carpe Diem?

As for “literati.” You can look it up yourself.

 

Comments

[Camille Minichino]

I love these, Rita! Especially Breaker Morant's. On the way to looking him up, I hemmed a pair of pants.

[rita lakin]

LOL Camille: you are a great multi-tasker!

[Ann Parker]

Like you, Rita, I get distracted by all the stuff that litters the path on my way to the object of my "to-do" list. I suppose the answer is to clean it all up... but OMG. Easier said than done.

[Susan C Shea]

Rita, If someone were to plot our travel through our houses, the maps would be such a puzzle. It's bad enough that I free associate mentally - going from looking at an overgrown shrub to thinking about 9/11 in a few seconds (get it?), but I can walk the same crazy path just going to slice an apple! LOL indeed.

[Mysti Berry]

I love Cornell Woolrich. Thanks for making my day!