The Ides

Well, the Ides of March have come and gone and the world is still turning.

Despite the current level of anxiety, when we reflect back it is easy to imagine the level of depression generations before us experienced.

Most likely anxiety had a different name when Pompeii was being smothered in volcanic fire or if an unconfirmed rumor had it that Nero was fiddling as Rome was burning.

Of course there wasn’t a digital issue of the NYT to confirm the need for anxiety or a charismatic newscaster to dispense the doom and gloom behind an enticing smile.

Was It better or worse? Well we will never know, but I tend to believe humanity was pretty much the same. A combination of emotions was most likely in evidence, the same as today.

Possibly families were divided not by an election but by the current culture of haves and have nots then prevalent. Is it radically different in 2025? Ah, that is for you to decide in the quiet of your soul.

Were families steeped in nobility ready to evacuate if lava touched their togas, or slaves required to pull a masters dominus to safety ignoring their own peril?

I am confident there were no vials of pills available or sanguine therapists to dispense advice, but I dare to say there was as much if not more anxiety, perhaps with a different name.

Still the world apparently kept turning and so it will until it's Maker says enough.