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The importance of the apple in jewelry and in lore and in practical science is not to be minimized. I ask you this. Were it not for the apple falling on Newton's noggin would gravity have ever been discovered? I assure you with great confidence a banana would not have done the trick.
You want medical advice? You all know the old adage: An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Probably hogwash. But in case it's not ... here's my advice. If you are truly sick and ailing ... refrain from eating that apple. It's hard enough to try to get a doctor these days ... there's no need for stumbling blocks.
Among the many Welsh legends ... after their deaths kings and other sundry heroes enter the next world to live in a paradise of apple trees called Avalon. I am sure you have all heard of Avalon. What I strongly suspect you do not know is that the word "Avalon" is probably derived from the Welsh word for apple which is: "Afal".
Then there is the element of cheap journalism that predates but is still in tune with today's news media. The story: The Apple. Extra extra. Read all about it. Eve gives Adam an apple and now they're being kicked out. Too much knowledge ... the theory goes ... is not a good thing. Alas ... I suspect governments have changed little over time. I also suspect I might be in a bit of trouble here. Oh well ... to thems wot dare come life's greatest prizes. Or something like that.
In Scandinavian mythology the gods keep themselves young by eating the golden apples of Idun. For the Arabs ... the apple has curative powers. Gamblers cut an apple open to count the seeds in order to find a lucky number. Maidens twist the stem of an apple once for each letter of the alphabet and when it breaks the corresponding letter is known without question to be the first initial of her true love's name. Of course ... this is little help. Let's say the stem snaps off at first twist. You have an "A". Adam and Aaron and Abel and Abiathar. Abner and Abie and Aden and Adolf. Well ... you get the idea.
But let us say you are a jeweler. You sitting at your bench. No time for lunch. At best ... you get to munch on an apple. One bite ... and back to work. You look up longingly. No time for another bite. Rush jobs. I want it now. I want it yesterday. I gave you this job an hour ago. What are you doing ... eating? Still ... that apple beckons. And inspiration ... in a crashing crescendo of cataclysmic creationism ... enters into your "keppy". Yessiree babaloo. You got an idea.
You put together some ruby and crystal rhinestones with an epoxy leaf and gold-plated metal ... and voila ... you have an apple with a chunk bitten off right in the same spot where you chomped a bit off of that piece of fruit still sitting on your bench where you left it eons ago.
And then serendipity came sauntering along the highway with very little to do on one particular day ... and she tossed Benjamin a crumb in the form of a small image of an bejeweled apple brooch ... and she said go ... use it ... enjoy ... Tidbit to your heart's content. And so here it is thanks to her. It's unsigned. It dates back to the
1960's. It's worth about 25 bucks.For those of you who are new to this thing called Tidbits...may I direct you to my home page at
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