Everyday Systems

I wanted to mention a little story about the post regarding the food (and drink)of the Mediterranean. While I was in college I spent 2 summers in Italy digging at an Etruscan site. The fellow who cleared the brush for us (so we could get in with our picks and shovels) would fuss at us for drinking so much water. During his breaks he would have a swig of wine.
I was telling the director (an American) about how funny that was. Imagine - water unhealthy! I went on to mention that perhaps this old Italian was on to something because I would see him and his wife working really hard in their garden every morning. I knew for a fact that the Italian was about 70 and the fact that he and his wife were still going strong....
The director leaned over and said "That lady working in the garden with him is actually his mother. [/b]

amarbach wrote:I wanted to mention a little story about the post regarding the food (and drink)of the Mediterranean. While I was in college I spent 2 summers in Italy digging at an Etruscan site. The fellow who cleared the brush for us (so we could get in with our picks and shovels) would fuss at us for drinking so much water. During his breaks he would have a swig of wine.
I was telling the director (an American) about how funny that was. Imagine - water unhealthy! I went on to mention that perhaps this old Italian was on to something because I would see him and his wife working really hard in their garden every morning. I knew for a fact that the Italian was about 70 and the fact that he and his wife were still going strong....
The director leaned over and said "That lady working in the garden with him is actually his mother. [/b]

Great story! I can just see it now...all those people on the street and in the gym who carry water bottles, filling them with wine instead!