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When I was a kid, I read Mad magazine. My favorite part was the feature labeled “Scenes I’d like to see.” This feature took famous scenes from television programs or the movies and added an additional one, one that could be irreverent, containing a witty retort or something completely outrageous. News this week brought “Scenes I’d Like to See” to mind.
One of my favorite places in the world is Stonehenge. Even if I never got to see it, pictures of the strange stone columns so meticulously arranged, captivate me. It does not take genius or rocket science to understand that some very ancient forces commanded the structure. Once you actually go to the place you notice how truly strange and wonderful it is. What struck me is how out of sync the stones are with the surrounding countryside. There are no stone quarries about; there are no natural outcroppings of similar stones in the near or far vicinity - just where did these stones come from, how did they get here and, the ultimate question, why are they here and what is the significance of Stonehenge? All questions swirl through your mind as you walk around the circle of rocks along with fascination and utter amazement.
This year a team of British scientists have gathered at Stonehenge to solve some of these fundamental questions, and this past week have issued a statement reporting on a significant and substantial discovery. The experts uncovered in the soil immediately under the stone columns small blue stones which according to the experts, were used by the ancients as talismans believed to possess curative abilities – a sort of ancient miracle drug, like a very old aspirin. The BBC reported the conclusion that Stonehenge could have been a Lourdes-like site for people who resided in England long ago and a place that attracted pilgrimages for the purpose of getting healthy.
Intellectually I accepted the report, “sounds possible” I thought. Emotionally though I felt let down. A site that could inspire such mystery, a place that stirred imaginations over the centuries seemed reduced, made smaller by the scientists’ explanations. During the evening I had this thought, this fantasy… dateline London.
March 31, London – Scientists today discovered ancient relics which apparently have unlocked the mystery of Stonehenge. Dr. Jones, head archeologist, reported, “Today in the dig at the site we uncovered several interesting artifacts. First, we uncovered small fragments of very thin stones that had curious scratching on them. We have determined that these fragments appear to be used as ‘receipt-like’ records of financial transactions, like bank deposits and records of account withdrawals. Based upon this, we have determined that Stonehenge served as the oldest ATM site in the pre-Medieval world.”
Later, a reporter asked Dr. Jones if there was anything discovered that could not, as yet be accounted for. Dr, Jones, pondered the question for a moment and then replied, “Funny that you mention that, while we were digging in the strata immediately below the one that yielded the fragments that I have already commented upon, we discovered what appears to be the fossilized remains of part of a sandwich, and very early tests indicate that it was pastrami on rye; further, immediately near we found a dented crumpled metal can of what appears to be Dr. Brown’s Cream soda.”
Now that is a scene I’d like to see.
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Posted by richwb on 2008-04-12 10:56:37 | Rating: | Views: 68
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I really enjoyed this post and your sense of humor. Thanks for the smiles this morning!
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Posted by Ellie2008
on 2008-04-13 12:42:33
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