“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

Charles Dickens wrote that in A Tale of Two Cities. If he hadn’t thrown in the word epoch it could have been written today. The word epoch means a period of time in history or a person’s life, typically one marked by notable events or particular characteristics. I know this because I had to look it up. Of course, a lot of you may already know the word. I didn’t. As I go through life, I find there are a few holes in my education. For instance, if a cumulous cloud drifted over Wyoming, I would have no idea where that was. I am a little fuzzy on just where Wyoming is other than being somewhere up and over to the right. That’s because I live in California. If I lived back East, it would be up and over the left. Because I know my geography. Come to think of it, I’m not even sure I know what makes a cloud cumulous. But I do know it, too, is up there and over to the right. Probably hovering over Wyoming.

But back to epoch. It’s a great word but not used much, especially now. I say, bring it back. And not just to honor Charles Dicken. If ever I’ve seen an epoch period of time, it is now. And life is tough enough without not having good words that fit the bill. EPOCH. Remember it. Use it. And if anyone has a map of Wyoming, send it on.