Mythology Class

I am having lots of fun this summer taking a Mythology class at the community college where I live and also work. I am revisiting the Iliad and the Odyssey and all the mythical gods that played such important roles in Homer's epic stories. I have also been intrigued by how many of the themes in Greek and Roman mythology are part of our world today. It seems that history repeats itself over and over again and some things remain the same. Even in our religions of today, the themes and stories are similar. The myths are filled with "saviors and sacrifices" and humans who referred to themselves as gods. Even Julius Cesear was made a "god" after he died and his son referred to himself as "the son of God." There are heroes, saviors, demons and devils, clever tricksters and monsters, the righteous and the enemies, sea gods who whip up the oceans (Posiden) and jealous maidens galore. Interesting how well the tellers of old knew human nature so well. All good material for Shakespeare's plays! I am finding this all quite fascinating and even though I studied some of this in school, it is really coming alive to me for the first time. I traveled some of the places talked about in these myths, i.e. Greece, Rome, Delphi, Egypt but never really understood (as I do now) what I was seeing. I sure would get a lot more out of those trips now! Anyway, I am having a fascinating summer reading about the gods of myth, and in doing so, understanding our own culture better.

GARAGE SALE

Does anyone out there, other than me, think that having a Garage Sale is a worthwhile venture? I put this question out to my Facebook friends and, almost to a person, they said NO. Well, I would like to agree, and also disagree. I agree it is so much darn work that dollar for dollar, it is hardly worth it. I don't expect to make a lot of money so that, I guess, is the first thing in my favor. That I have cleaned out my basement, and gone through things I have not laid eyes on in years is a mixed blessing, at best. I could have just kept them in all of their tight, closed up boxes and continued to forget about them until the next move, or wait to have my children sort them all out, but I decided to do it myself with the help of my very willing (I have a gem) husband, and to my surprise, I have found some things that, in the past, I treasured. To find these "treasures" again brings some joy, but only if you have the time to enjoy them. The hard part is that, once discovered again, can I easily let them go?
My husband and I have taken our time with this enterprise which makes it not seem so daunting, but now, both of us are ready to have this abundance of household "taka taka" depart our garage for a new home. Both our cars are moaning that they have been left out in the rain too, too long. So this Friday and Saturday are the dates for many of our things to fly the coop and to be enjoyed by others. As I sat this morning deciding between $1.00 or $2.00 items, I had a bitter/sweet feeling about it all. Many of the things I was marking are a part of our history, and out they will go. I shed a slight tear, but not for long. It is one more layer that my husband and I are shedding as we continue on in life, finding more and more joy, not in things, but in each other, our families and our friends.