For years and years– all my years, really– I have nodded politely or just stared blankly as people refer to Doric columns versus Ionic.

Apparently, these good people can tell those two apart from the Corinthian ones, too.  And they even talk about details and centering and all other sorts of good things that had completely eluded me, until today.

Now I can tell you with confidence that the columns in the bottom row are Doric.  The second floor boasts Ionic columns.  And the large, huge columns –whose capitals you cannot see because you can only see the bases– are Corinthian.

How did I come by this information, even though I’ve been to the National Building  Museum more than once?

Because today I discovered it with one of the oldest friends in my acquaintance (almost sixteen years!).  And good friends, amazingly, teach you more than you could ever hope to learn. 

And it just happens, really.

________

To my friend: even though I know you seldom read this, it was great to see you.

To my old friends out there — those of you who’ve managed to stay in touch despite my David-Bowie-esque way of changing– I thank you, and I love you.

And to my blog friends, both older and newer (you know who you are, but I can always link up if you want), thank you for being my friends.

I sincerely love you all.