DID YOU KNOW?
“Do everything!” That’s a tall order, but it is exactly what a factotum is expected to do. It’s also a literal translation of the New Latin termfactotum, which, in turn, traces to the Latin words facere (“to do”) andtotum (“everything”). In the 16th century, “factotum” was often used in English as if it was a surname, paired with first names to create personalities such as “Johannes Factotum” (literally “John Do-everything”). Back then, it wasn’t necessarily desirable to be called a “factotum”; the term was a synonym of “meddler” or “busybody.” Now the word is more often used for a handy, versatile individual responsible for many different tasks.
Today is the last day of the Fast. The last day of winter. And now it's been five years since my trip to Wisconsin where I saw more snow than I'd ever seen in my life.
What else is in store for this day?
