Love this and it's inspired me to write a post about it! Well, so far I've just written it in the shower this morning after reading this!! Thanks. Love it!
What a wonderful way to think about family history. "Verbal heirlooms" is such an evocative phrase, and your story is a reminder that our ancestors live on not only through photographs and documents, but also in the words, expressions and little habits we inherit without even realising it. It certainly made me think about the sayings that have been passed down in my own family.
This is great! My grandma always used to say “you’s”… “You’s come in and sit a spell.” “Love you’s!” “You’s et yet?” “You’s come on in, now and have some pie.”
You’ve now got me thinking about my “verbal heirlooms”. I’m sure once I start there will be many. One that sprung to mind immediately was my dad saying “everybody happy?” I’ve used it over the years myself at various gatherings without realising and immediately dad is in the room.
That sounds like a very thoughtful verbal heirloom!
My dad (in addition to the “no shot?” Phrase) has another one that he uses when he’s done with talking to people… “well, ok then…” that’s our signal that it’s time to go. 😂
Wonderful Kirsi! I will be deep in thought all day trying to remember verbal treasures now. One that has persisted with my husband and sons is "Mama Finder", started by my ability to find things that were "lost forever" after a very short period of one of the males looking for something. "Lost Forever" is still frequently used to this day. Thanks for the inspiration!!
My grandpa didn’t say “you’s” but he was always talking about the mysterious “whatchamacallit”. He would be working on something and say, “Hand me a 3/8s whatchamacallit.” The funniest time he used the word was when we had them a long on a trip out West and he saw his first elk from along side the rode. He got all excited and yelled at my grandma, “Minnie! Look at that whatchamacallit next to the whatchamacallit!” My grandma looked and frustrated by the ambiguous direction replied, “Damn Charley what are you talking about!?”:-)))
Love this and it's inspired me to write a post about it! Well, so far I've just written it in the shower this morning after reading this!! Thanks. Love it!
What a wonderful way to think about family history. "Verbal heirlooms" is such an evocative phrase, and your story is a reminder that our ancestors live on not only through photographs and documents, but also in the words, expressions and little habits we inherit without even realising it. It certainly made me think about the sayings that have been passed down in my own family.
Thanks Paul! I hope to hear about some of your family sayings soon!
I am definitely working on it!
This is great! My grandma always used to say “you’s”… “You’s come in and sit a spell.” “Love you’s!” “You’s et yet?” “You’s come on in, now and have some pie.”
Love, love, love!
Love it . Fun story
Well, I'll be damned. I love this one!!
You’ve now got me thinking about my “verbal heirlooms”. I’m sure once I start there will be many. One that sprung to mind immediately was my dad saying “everybody happy?” I’ve used it over the years myself at various gatherings without realising and immediately dad is in the room.
That sounds like a very thoughtful verbal heirloom!
My dad (in addition to the “no shot?” Phrase) has another one that he uses when he’s done with talking to people… “well, ok then…” that’s our signal that it’s time to go. 😂
Wonderful Kirsi! I will be deep in thought all day trying to remember verbal treasures now. One that has persisted with my husband and sons is "Mama Finder", started by my ability to find things that were "lost forever" after a very short period of one of the males looking for something. "Lost Forever" is still frequently used to this day. Thanks for the inspiration!!
That’s a great one! I hope you think of more!
Tangible Vs intangible. It is definitely worth considering family history from both sides.
Hidden in plain sight! Brilliant & funny.
My grandpa didn’t say “you’s” but he was always talking about the mysterious “whatchamacallit”. He would be working on something and say, “Hand me a 3/8s whatchamacallit.” The funniest time he used the word was when we had them a long on a trip out West and he saw his first elk from along side the rode. He got all excited and yelled at my grandma, “Minnie! Look at that whatchamacallit next to the whatchamacallit!” My grandma looked and frustrated by the ambiguous direction replied, “Damn Charley what are you talking about!?”:-)))
Cute!!