This reminded me of a minor incident from last November's trip up to Minneapolis. Cecilia was hosting us all for dinner in New Brighton (in her usual effortless manner), and we were chatting about whatever getting-older siblings and their spouses talk about. There some some passing usage of the word "decimate"; perhaps in a one-out-of-ten situation but I don't really recall the specifics. Anyway, SEG - always well-read and so good with words - made some quiet allusion to the origins of the word "decimate." Maybe I was wrong, but I'm pretty sure I observed that Nick and Julia both immediately reacted to their papa's little remark; I wasn't sure if they were chuckling or groaning; I am pretty sure they've endured (and probably profited from) this kind of word play quite often over the years.
And going through this book very shortly after that trip, I saw that Crassus indeed had punished some cowardly Roman soldiers routed during the slave uprising led by Spartacus - via decimation: "five hundred that were the beginners of the flight he divided into fifty tens, and one of each was to die by lot, thus reviving the ancient Roman punishment of decimation."
Anyway, I hope there was a fine birthday celebration in Mason City, and trust that it involved more than messing around with words (even though that activity is pretty enjoyable).
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