was dumb.  At least that’s what I was thinking earlier this morning. 

It’s because when I think of “carpe diem” I think of “seize the day” and picture myself literally sprawled out on the coattails of a fleeing slice of my life with me yelling, “Wait!  Don’t go so fast!”  It doesn’t work people.  And I’m really upset about it.

So I clicked over to Wikipedia to check on the meaning of carpe diem.  I mean, maybe it doesn’t really mean “seize the day.” 

Ahhh…

It would seem that carpe diem has more than one meaning.  And I’m relieved that I was instinctively confused over the fact that carpe diem does have more than one meaning.  Those coattails will run away with you.  There’s no stopping them.

As always, when one thing is figured out there are usually two more things that need to be accomplished.  Like my to-do list was not already long enough, I have now added

• Teach Joseph Latin
• Read Horace
• Read Virgil
• Read basically everything hard and complex and old
• Study more philosphy, including existentialism

My ignorance is shining here, I know, but let me save that for another post.  Please.

I feel better about carpe diem, and I think I am able to better comprehend some other Latin phrases that are connected to what carpe diem really means.  Like Memento mori.  It means “remember you are mortal.”  Isn’t that beautiful?  I get that.  I get it.  We are not promised another day.  Not even another minute.  Love the present and do all you can in it!  It’s all we have.

Another is collige virgo rosas.  It means “gather, girl, the roses.”  I have not read (yet)  De rosis nascentibus which is attributed to Ausonius or Virgil, but I am inspired to do so, and I already find myself loving the little phrase “gather, girl, the roses.”

There were roses I should have gathered last night but didn’t.  With me working like I do, my husband and I rarely get an evening together.  Last night was supposed to be an evening together.  Alas, we had unexpected company and ended up with only an hour to spare for ourselves before bedtime.  My husband seemed put out.  He was pouting over not getting enough time with me.  Me.  He was strewing roses around my feet. 

Did I gather them?  No.  I didn’t like what I felt was an attitude on his part and I let him go for a drive rather than seizing the moment and gathering the roses.  I need to pay more attention and put forth more effort.

Whoever said carpe diem was a smart fellow.