New Tech Boomers

Words fascinate me. I know, once again, the word nerd rears her ugly head and annoys her co-workers, friends and family. Please indulge me.

I was taught by Francisca nuns, “We never guess, we look it up”. I still have the certificate that was “awarded” to me  for this particularly inane, mandatory course.  At that juncture in my parochial life, I could not foresee the pure ecstasy I would derive in later years from the use of words and their origins or the sheer pleasure I find in discovering a new word.

Each year, I eagerly anticipate the registry of new additions to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary. Last year I was delighted with one word in particular. Are you holding your collective breaths, as I was, upon discovering its existence? The word is mondegreen. Let that roll around your tongue and infest your brain. Define  mondegreen, you ask. Well here goes…

Mondegreen n fr: a word or phrase that results from a mishearing of something said or sung. It was coined in reference to a Scottish ballad “Lady Mondegreen” being sung incorrectly as, “Laid him on the green.”  Personally, I am not familiar with that ballad but am familiar with other modern examples of the mondegreen. For example, have you ever belted out, “Scuse me while I kiss this guy” instead of “Scuse me while I kiss the sky” from the Jimi Hendrix song Purple Haze. The song lyric I still sing incorrectly and probably will continue to do is, “I get high, I get high” from The Beatles song, “I Want To Hold Your Hand.” The correct words are: I can’t hide, I can’t hide. I remain perplexed with that one. My experience was more in tune with the mondegreen; I never hid.

There are a myriad of examples of the mondegreen and I challenge you to investigate the “correct”  lyrics to songs you belt out while showering, driving or crooning to that special person.  At the very least, you will discover the joy of You Tube or, dare I hope, the power of Google. You can Google anything & find an answer. Alas, young Scot, I digress.

There were other exciting words added to the Dictionary last year.  You too can discover, hopefully with the same amount of enthusiasm I possess, the top 25 words added last year. Peruse the list by clicking here. Enjoy, learn, expand your horizons, but most importantly, remember to “dumb it down” in mixed company.

I wait, with bated breath, the upcoming additions.

I leave you with this video because we are heading from the “left” coast to the “right” coast.  We’ll be visiting the 9/11 Memorial in New York City and my head needs to be “right”. Young Billy does it for me with this song!!

Happy, Happy First of May…
So begins the poem that circulated among the matriarchs of our large Irish Catholic family. It came to fruition long before I was born & possibly foretold my arrival. My childhood memories of said poem, perhaps exaggerated, range from curiosity at a young age to outright indignity as a teenager.
Why did I need to reach a certain age to participate in the laughter that my mom, aunts and older cousins were so wholeheartedly enjoying?

The cards and phone calls sent and received on May 1st were proclaimed by “The Matriarchs” to celebrate just that, May Day. Somehow their excessive joy did not ring true to their explanations.

In many countries, May Day is synonymous with International Workers Day which celebrates the social and economic achievements of the labor movement.  As a holiday, it has ancient origins and it can be related to many customs that have survived into modern times.

May Day is a cross-quarter day, meaning that in the Northern Hemisphere (where it is celebrated) it falls approximately halfway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice.  It is a celebration of spring and has decidedly pagan roots. To allow May Day to become “Catholic” the pope proclaimed it the feast day of St. Joseph the Worker. At the Catholic grade school we attended, The Resurrection of Our Lord, there was a yearly May procession  and one lucky 8th grade girl was chosen to portray Mary.  Girls in the lower classes were dressed in gowns and were proclaimed angels. The procession circuited the school grounds and ended at a grotto on the property. Of course, there was the proper Mass to follow.  I remember the angel part but can’t recall who was chosen Mary when I reached the 8th grade although I’m sure it was important at the time!!

As a child I was forbidden from attaining the secret knowledge of the family tradition of May 1st but as I came of age I was admitted into the world of these crazy women and the true meaning of their celebration was finally revealed: Happy, Happy, 1st of May, outdoor —-ing starts today.

That’s all I can reveal in this post but rest assured the tradition lives on. My daughter has now been gifted with the poem, much to her chagrin, and I have lovingly shared it with a few close women friends who are aiding in the perpetuation of the tradition.  I eagerly anticipate the arrival of phone calls, e-mails ( a technologically advanced addition) and cards. Their arrival brings me great joy as well as the giving.

Stay tuned for Dreary, Dreary 1st of Oct….The saga continues.

Please enjoy the following video; appropriate venue for the 1st of May & one of my favorite artists.
Jeanne

Sorry for waxing philosophical but do you ever ponder the reasons certain people are in your life? Lately I’ve been taking stock of my friends and I believe I’ve confirmed what I once suspected. Perhaps I just have more time to allow for introspective thoughts now that our daughter is married and has her own journey to partake.

Many years ago, when I needed it most, God sent a little old lady to me. She became an adopted grandma to our daughter. Since my parents are far away and my husband’s are with God themselves, we needed her as much as she pretended she needed us. At the time, I did realize the jewel I had been given but had no inkling that she would continue to grace us with her presence and love for so long. She’s still going strong at 89 and is a daily inspiration to me.   I pray she will be with us as long as we need her and I realize that soon I will be called upon to pay retribution for the  strengths and kindnesses she as shown me. I’ll be there!!

I have taken stock of the women friends that grace my life and I find that each one has arrived with her very own gift. I’ll not give them names because surely they know who they are.  One is an inspiration and yet another has taught me tolerance (most of the time). I’ve recently found a deeper bond with one woman who listens and honestly understands my feelings, without judging or belittling me; what a rate gift that is!! I phone her because her gift is truly special and I don’t want her to forget it. Oh, she’s not soft & fuzzy, she’s honest & kind.

Some women (all people, I guess) can’t stop talking about themselves and some never let you “inside” even though you’ve shared your most intimate and sorrowful feelings with them.  Some days what I really need is to forget about myself and the talkers are welcome;  some days I need to unburden and the listeners are appreciated. But the truly gifted, I’ve discovered, are the ones who have found that balance. Maybe this is a honed skill but I don’t believe that. I believe they are sent to us as gifts and need to be appreciated and thanked.

So…if you fall into the “balanced” category, I thank you and aspire to be like you. It’s the start of a new journey.