Seize the day

By SHARON KENNEDY WYNNE

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 30, 2000

Local author John Abernathy, 68, suffered a debilitating stroke 10 years ago that left him barely able to communicate. Remarkably, part of his recovery plan involved writing his own story of growing up poor in the rural South. As he wrote, sometimes only a paragraph or two a day, he found his long-term memory to be nearly perfect. His short-term memory, however, caused him problems, making typing difficult. Recently with the help of a friend, Jim Wheaton, Abernathy put together a first chapter of his memories, titled My Life, in 45 pages with photos. He will be the featured guest today at the Largo Public Library, 351 East Bay Drive, Largo, at 10 a.m. Call (727) 587-6715.

Film star Omar Sharif is in the know about pharaohs in the latest educational feature to hit MOSI's 10,500-square-foot IMAX dome screen, Mysteries of Egypt. Egyptian native Sharif (Lawrence of Arabia, Dr. Zhivago) portrays a grandfather regaling his granddaughter (whom you might recognize as Kate Maberly of Secret Garden) with the legends and tombs of ancient Egypt. The National Geographic production features the requisite stunning photography (much of it aerial) of the pyramids at Giza, the Nile River, the Valley of the Kings and inside King Tutankhamun's tomb. Call the Museum of Science and Industry, 4801 E Fowler Ave., at (813) 987-6100 for prices and show schedule.

The Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center is now showing an exhibition featuring the paintings of artist Jane Arnold. The work is on display from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through June 27 at the center, 324 Pine St.; free. Call (727) 942-5605.

Things to view...

A freak of geology, The Dead Sea is also interesting for archaeological and historical reasons. Its gaping cliffs once were thought to be the gateway to hell. Stare into the abyss on WEDU-Ch.3, 8 p.m.

AMC looks at Reel Models: The First Women of Film. Largely forgotten today, women such as Alice Guy were major players in the early days of the cinema. Guy, said to be the first woman to head her own studio, directed and produced hundreds of films in France and the United States. She made her first movie in her spare time while working as a secretary for a film company in 1896. 8 p.m.

- Compiled by Times staff writer Sharon Kennedy Wynne.