. . . I find that I use the word ‘cool’ more and more often. It’s become my general go-to sound of approval, appreciation, and good will. I will nod and say it just to show that I’m listening or to cover missing the last thing you said.
I have an uncle who now finishes nearly every sentence with ‘and that.’ He used to say it frequently, but with time it’s increased. I wonder if the same thing will happen to me. If so, my kids can bury me with COOL on my tombstone.
Does anyone else have a word or phrase that seems to be slipping into their speech more and more?
Also, I have a theory. It’s not a serious theory, but it amuses me. I tinker with it from time to time. For now, I’ll pick a number. Let’s say 24.
As people age, they tend to repeat themselves. What they’re left with near the end is 24 narrative patterns. Those 24 are divided between anecdotes (stories or jokes), complaints, and reminiscences (vignettes about people or things). What kind of person you are determines the ratio. You get any number of songs.
I’m determined to be a low complaint person. This is probably because my dad was a 3/19/2 person.
Quite often, I think that I don’t have the categories right. Any suggestions on categories will be welcomed. The number is a CBS number (clear blue sky - as in pulled out of the). I really doubt that anyone will ever do a study to determine the number. You can speculate about the number, if you like. It’s the ratio that matters.
I have noticed that people repeat words and favorite stories more as they age. Sometimes they must forget that they told the story and other times they just enjoy restating it. However, even younger people tend to repeat favorite trendy words. I discovered this long ago and have tried to avoid at least repeating stories to the same people. We all have our affectations about certain words though.
I think eventually I’ll just be reduced to telling people about the time I fell asleep in the Louvre and the time there was a possum in my bed over and over.
Hopefully I’ll be able to keep my complaint ratio very very low…right now I’m so relentlessly silver lining/glasshalfull I think it can tip over into irritating.
I do plan on telling younguns that wearing an onion on your belt used the be the style for a time.
Anecdotes, complaints, and reminiscences? I’d like to think my numbers are 10/4/10. Anecdotes are the mainstay of most casual conversation. I try not to complain. Most of my life is behind me so there’s a lot to reminiscence about.
I also use “cool” a lot. It’s a good word. “Awesome” doesn’t sound right coming from someone my age. “Totally” doesn’t sound right either but I can’t help it.
If I ever use “sick” the way it’s being used now, somebody smack me.