For many years I’ve pondered—or “my mind” has been pondered by—an almost certainly apocryphal story about Bernard Baruch, who was asked at a party if he had any plans for the coming year. As I recall, he said that he was going to learn Classical Greek. His interlocutor asked why, at this late date—the party was to celebrate Mr. Baruch’s 95th birthday, after all.
He supposedly answered, “If not now, when?”
Since Mr. Baruch studied Latin and ancient Greek in college, I either misheard or misremember the anecdote.
No matter. I had two years of public-school Latin in the mid-Sixties and have forgotten nearly all of it. Fortunately, I ain’t dead yet.
My other 2021 New Year’s Resolution is to tame a wild corvid, but since I’ve never seen a crow or raven in my yard, I’m starting with Latin.
Bene venisti, amice! If you might be interested in taming one of Poe’s (Edgar Allan) ravens, there exists a Latin translation of it you might enjoy. If interested, send me a private message and I’ll provide a link to it.
Love the good humor! I will say, though, that you might consider an African or European swallow. I hear they are quite skilled, can even carry coconuts…
I am in urban Washington State, and have seen neither foreign swallows nor an unguarded stash of coconuts about. I must pay closer attention next time I leave the house.
And this will be fun. Looks like I’ll learn a lot more than Latin if I hang out here.
Jozina