I love words. Obviously. I love to write. I love to talk. I especially love to elucidate and enunciate to clarify my exact point I want to make (for those of you who don't love words, that means I like to really talk a lot and for a really long time). I never had to have my parents tell me, "Use your words, Trisha!" I've been using my words since God gave me breath, and I've been using them well. There's an entire language full of amazing and wonderful words, and I cringe at the thought of each generation using less and less of them until the only acceptable adjective left is 'stupid,' the word 'like' is synonymous with 'he said/she said,' and, of course, the F word is the Walmart of words - it's ugly, it's cheap, and it's everywhere.
Unfortunately, for every fantastic word there has to be an unacceptable one. I have discovered that my list of Words I Shall Not Speak Nor Shall Anyone Near Me For Fear Of Losing Thy Tongue has gotten longer as I've gotten older. When Jay and I got married, there were really only two: the P word and the C word. If you're not certain what words I mean, think of female genitalia. Yep, there you go. Don't say it out loud!!! What the hell's wrong with you? I just said they're words you DON'T say!!! I think the C word is just not classy, and the P word, well....it just makes me curl my lip in disgust. Jay knows to save it up for something he REALLY wants to say and it better be important to him 'cuz it's gonna warrant at LEAST a pinch as close to his nipple as I can get when he does.
Gradually, other distasteful words started creeping in. I found myself cringing when the weathermen repeatedly used the word "moist." I don't like to hear Red Lobster refer to seafood as "succulent." I also don't care for the word "juicy," and do not get me started on that gagworthy commercial with the college dork and his roommate's mom sucking on the Halls together.
(Totally unrelated, but still applicable since it's my blog, I don't care for Rachael Ray's new stupid dog food. It's called Nutrish, and I don't care to see my name plastered all over dog food bags. That's a petty one, I know, but it is my blog so it's valid.)
I want my kids to know the English language has so many opportunities to really say what you want to say. My dad's favorite word is asinine. What a great word. It already has a swear word built right into it. When I hear my kids spouting off brilliant stuff like "you're dumb!" or "that's stupid!" I want to tell them that there is an entire dictionary just brimming with even better adjectives to insult each other! Everyone has gotten so lazy with their words and it's ridiculous. I'm not saying everyone has to become pretentious asses who try to fit as many syllables into a sentence as possible. Just forgo the obvious and really dig deep for that word that says what you want to say. Get a word-a-day calendar. Get a thesaurus. Hell, just promise to stop using the F word as adjective, noun, verb, and adverb and I'd be pleased.
Use your words, people!!!!
Queen of my own Magic Kingdom, full of all the irreverent, obnoxious, and sometimes offensive sarcasm you know and love. I don't care what people think of me, but I do care if you like my blog. Read, forward, repeat.
