Collage from JeanR to D+N+K+V

These lovely collages are from JeanR.

Notice her choices of stamps - they are very nice with the various floral photos.

I lost Nancy's - and will hopefully add it. 
Intense technology problems today.

As, I mentioned, technology problems are not as bad as the Black Plague of 1347.

I'm only 5 episodes into the 24 part series. 

I've always been interested in the Black Plague and find it interesting that people do not realize that it is still around. Not in huge numbers, but people do end up dying because it is rare and if they are not lucky, they go to a doctor who is not aware of the symptoms. Since it is a bacteria - it is easily treated with antibiotics. If you do not believe me - just Google it - and you will see where the cases are.

In 1347 only 10-15% of the population was literate, so there are not a lot of first hand accounts of what went on. Some areas were hit harder than others. And in some places, it would swoop in and wipe out entire communities. Some historians speculate that half the population of the world died from bubonic plague. There are different numbers out there. But, it was a lot. And, the weeding out of so many people opened the door for a lot of changes. For one, the renaissance.

It's ironic that Italy was ground zero for the Black Plague as it infected Europe - as it was a bit of a ground zero this year. In 1347, it was not *Italy* as we know it (it was still city-states) - but all the seaports on the peninsula offered some very speedy access to the rats and their fleas that carried the disease.

And I was able to re-download Nancy's envelope. Whew.