the quiet after

Before computers and Kitchenaid appliances, what did we say instead of "I'm still trying to process it," or "it was just too much to process"? Which beautiful, more articulate verbs did that modern machine-word replace?

One of my favorite parts in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy is in The Fellowship of the Ring, when the fellowship emerges from the mines of Moria, having just lost their leader at Khazad-Dûm. They are bloody and bruised, exhausted, and at a loss for what to do next.

But the sheer magnitude of all that has happened is itself numbing. So they trudge on.

Then, unexpectedly, beauty arrests them (with the assistance of a dwarf, no less!).

They stooped over the dark water. At first they could see nothing. Then slowly they saw the forms of the encircling mountains mirrored in a profound blue, and the peaks were like the plumes of white flame above them; beyond there was a space of sky. There like jewels sunk in the deep shone glinting stars, though sunlight was in the sky above. Of their own stooping forms no shadow could be seen.

'O Kheled-zâram fair and wonderful!' said Gimli. 'There lies the Crown of Durin till he wakes. Farewell!' He bowed, and turned away, and hastened back up the green-sward to the road again.

'What did you see?' said Pippin to Sam, but Sam was too deep in thought to answer.

from J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring, Ch. VI, "LothlĂłrien"

That's the kind of "process" I mean. If only I could find the word . . .