Patchwork

Long live the short vowel.. Even though I know "long-lived" means "long-lifed," and that, before the spelling changed, the word was pronounced "long-LIE-fed," when I hear the people on NPR say "long-lived" (rhymes with "hived"), it just makes me blink. I suppose it's one of those rare times where I tend towards the less fusty in language.

Down the Oregon Trail. A mother introducing one toddler to another in Target this afternoon: "Jeb, this is Seth. Have you met Seth? Seth, this is Jeb." And this is Mary. We're all going to try to repair a wagon wheel now that we've forded the river. Just don't break any limbs or catch dysentery, or we'll all die.

Disposable Reads. Lately I'm enjoying all the books I buy, but, I'm not feeling a deep need to keep them after reading. This recycling attitude flies in the face of a life-long belief that books are friends, companions who travel with you through thick and thin, who keep watch over your house and keep you company when you're alone and even represent you when you loan them out (if you loan them out; some people keep duplicate copies of their favorite books for that very purpose). I enjoyed Elegance, but I don't have any desire to keep it. I used to only pitch the ones I never liked. Odd that when I start turning towards library school, I start shedding tomes.

Posted on July 06, 2004 to pure drivel

Previously: Not So Easy Cure
Next Time: Not Your English Teacher's King Arthur.
Main: cleaning out ferryboats