La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
Dear blog reader Deedles commented yesterday that all that talk of Romans had her imagining San Geraldo in a toga. I told San Geraldo I wished I could accommodate her fantasy, and he said, “I have a picture of myself in a toga.” Of course he does.
Flashback to 9th grade, Axtell Park Junior High School, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. According to the Axtell Park Ink Blot, Mr. Roth’s two Latin classes came to school in togas to celebrate Latin Day. Photos were done by Mr. Birkenheuer (the German teacher) who posed the students in groups of three. “The Roman citizens really enjoyed it, especially because no assignment was given.” San Geraldo still had braces and his eye glasses were clearly not vintage Roman. He wore a V-neck T-shirt under his toga and Caesar’s laurel crown sat atop his head. A thong is visible (sorry, Deedles, not that kind of thong).
Speaking of thongs, I went to have some clothes repaired and altered yesterday. When I arrived at the shop, a 30-ish stud muffin was being helped. He was dressed entirely in Lycra with bulging muscles and a bubble butt. And, as if that weren’t enough, he was having two jockstraps altered for a better fit. I probably should have asked for a photo.
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La querida lectora del blog, Deedles, comentó ayer que toda esa charla sobre romanos la tenía imaginando a San Geraldo con una toga. Le dije a San Geraldo que deseaba poder adaptarme a su fantasía y me dijo: “Tengo una foto mía con una toga”. Por su puesto que lo hace.
Flashback al noveno grado, Axtell Park Junior High School, Sioux Falls, Dakota del Sur. Según Axtell Park Ink Blot, las dos clases de latín del Sr. Roth llegaron a la escuela en togas para celebrar el Día Latino. Las fotos fueron hechas por el Sr. Birkenheuer (el profesor de alemán) quien posó a los estudiantes en grupos de tres. “Los ciudadanos romanos realmente lo disfrutaron, especialmente porque no se dio ninguna tarea”. San Geraldo todavía tenía aparatos ortopédicos y sus anteojos claramente no eran romanos antiguos. Llevaba una camiseta con cuello en V debajo de su toga y la corona de laurel de César descansaba sobre su cabeza. Se ve una correa [en inglés “thong,” una tanga].
Hablando de tangas, ayer fui a reparar y cambiar algunas prendas. Cuando llegué a la tienda, estaban sirviendo un “stud muffin” de 30 y pico. Estaba vestido completamente en Lycra con músculos abultados y un trasero de burbuja. Y como si eso no fuera suficiente, le cambiaron dos suspensorios para que le quedaran mejor. Probablemente debería haber pedido una foto.
• Acueducto Romano Caños de Carmona en Sevilla. Construido entre el 68 y el 65 a.C. Estuvo en pleno funcionamiento hasta 1912 cuando fue demolido. Quedan tres tramos de cinco arcos.
I love the photo of San Geraldo in the toga! I took two years of Latin in high school from my most favorite teacher, Mrs. Cargill. She was a petite lady originally from Argentina who also taught Spanish. My second year our class was comprised of just 10 students. We had a Latin “banquet” with the first year students at the home of one of them. The invitations were hand printed on a scroll that I still have, almost 60 years later. I won the girls’ toga contest. I know my mother had a photo of my costume, but sadly, it’s been lost to the ages. The under part of the toga was red and the draped part was purple. I had a headband in my short hair. We feasted on pizza and there was a chariot race (I think it was kids’ wagons) and a *cringe* slave auction. (The senior students bought the first year students. I doubt that would be allowed to happen now, especially in California where I lived then.)
This brought back some great memories of that class and Mrs. Cargill. One day she read the Latin version of “Winnie the Pooh” (“Winnie ille Pu”) to the class while I read the English translation. Good times…
TexasTrailerParkTrash:
Ew, the slave auction. I wonder how the student slaves were chosen. The rest of it sounds wonderful. Winnie the Pooh in Latin! I wish I read Latin. Did you know (I didn’t) that Winnie the Pooh was named for a bear in the Winnipeg Zoo named Winnipeg Pooh?
Hail the conquering San Geraldo! What a wonderful photo. No one had sheets on their bed that day, LOL!
Debra:
I wish I could have seen the other “togas.” They were apparently of different colors with different significance and there were costume winners. So I imagine some didn’t look so obviously like bed linens.
Aaaaaah, I love that toga photo! and the whole idea of the event– foreign language teachers for the win!
Last night, at parent conferences, one parent told me that he hadn’t had to take Spanish in his high school (fortunately, he said), because his school accepted a Mass Media class as a foreign language credit… haa! I commented that, gee, maybe he could have gotten a math credit for that, too… why not!? (No surprise, his son is struggling mightily in Spanish-1.)
Judy C:
Mass Media is a foreign language?!? I hope that policy has changed since then.
I had Latin for 3 years in high school. None of the teaches I had were quite as imaginative as SG’s though.
Jim:
I wish I had studied Latin. So useful in understanding and learning other languages.
While the photo of SG is totally adorable, I am flabbergasted, gobsmacked and flummoxed that you didn’t get Lycra BubbleButt.
Bob:
I thought about it but didn’t want to embarrass him. I don’t think he expected any witnesses to his jockstrap adjustments. Oh, how I wish. Perfect body. Handsome face. Full black beard, squarely trimmed. Dios mío.
I think SG may be wearing the Toga virilis rather than a Toga candida, but the girls might well be wearing the Toga picta. Who even knew there were so many types?! [Thank you, Wikipedia] Jx
PS What vandalism on the part of the grandees of Seville, to demolish a venerable Roman artefact – in working order!
Jon:
Those togas sound like a couple of communicable diseases.
Thankfully someone stepped in and saved those last remnants of the aqueduct. Politicians in Madrid said it was an eyesore with no aesthetic value.
Awww, SG’s sooooo cute! I do prefer him as his well-seasoned self and In my imagination he is magnificent! He’s also down to the tunic (short) underneath. It’s my imagination and I can do whatever I want with it! As I’ve said before, you two get more beautiful as you season.
My granddaughter turned 18 today (17th) and her father will be 45 tomorrow. I was feeling ancient and this cheered me up. Thanks Scoot. A lycra clad bubble butt would’ve been the cherry on top.
Deedles:
I prefer SG with more seasoning, too. I’m so sorry I couldn’t provide the cherry!
SG is so good to you!!
Ron:
He really is. He’s such a great sport.
Wow… amazing that the Roman Aqueduct was still functioning in the 20th century! I’m glad they saved a portion of it.
I’m still trying to wrap my mind around having a jockstrap altered. Don’t they just come pre-sized in packages like underwear?
Kelly:
The aqueduct had been repaired and improved a couple of times over the centuries. Apparently, as late as the early 20th century, it was the best quality water in the city.
You could have offered to help with the fitting, fit is so important.
David:
Oh, how I wish he had been trying them on.
John Belushi’s got nothing on San Geraldo!
Kirk:
And SG did it first.
I’m happy he survived the Ides of March!
Walt the Fourth:
Perfect timing for the toga theme.
Amor Fati
Urspo:
Do you believe in amor fati?
Great Pic and love the thong story.
Sassybear:
I really regret not being more forward and asking the guy for a photo. He looked like the type that wouldn’t mind getting some attention.