Gommy was recently talking with a cutie patootie co-worker about how when my daughter Tiffany was a teenager, she used to give me a 'word of the week' so I wouldn't become an old fogey. Each week she would put a new 'word' on the dryer in my laundry room. She knew I'd always find it there!!! No doubt.....(that is one of those phrases of the day.)
Some of the words 'back in the day' were; chill, fly-girl, the bomb, peace out and cool. Cool must never go out of style because I still hear people (yes, even young people) using it today. Tiff would still be trying to keep ole' Mom up to date if she were around, but my sweet Tiff died in a car accident several years ago. Tiff would be happy and proud to know her old Mom continues to try to keep up with the times.
My little friend and co-worker Jen, gave me some new and up to date words to keep me in the loop. She is a sweetie and a senior in high-school and I know she would have loved Tiff and Tiff would have loved her as well. To be honest, I am quite pleased the younger set still even wants to talk to me, since I really am approaching the 'old fogey' set more so now. There might be some Gommys and Grands out there who might want to keep up with the younger set, so Gommy will let you in on some of the words Jen gave me; duck - meaning dumb as a duck, bout it - meaning fast, straight - means cool (but you can still use cool, don't worryI checked), true - you say that every few minutes when someone is telling you something (I guess it is to let them know you are still listening), dip -means you are leaving (it used to mean stupid as in 'dumb as a dip-stick'), sick - means cool (again), mom - means you are being a drag so lighten up!, scoop me up - means will you pick me up. There, that should do you for a while. Write them down and go over them every once in a while. Try to use them in conversations with other older folks and maybe we can bridge the generation gap a word at a time.....Gommy will throw in another word every once in a while in my blog to help keep us all up to date.
Gommy really enjoys working with young people. It helps to keep you younger (in your thoughts anyway). If you 'hang' with
( that's another term meaning - be with) only old people, the only new terms you are going to pick up are MRI, bowel movement, scan, ache, pain.....get it? I prefer to try to stay as young as I can. Not because of vanity.....we are all going to get older, but you don't have to get OLD! Old people have a tendency to be grouchy too, or as my granddaughter Samantha says, "He is grumpy Gommy". If all you talk about is your aches and pains and your next doctors' appointment, no wonder you are grumpy.....
So let's start trying to at least act younger in our way of how we think of things. Try saying things that are pleasant and not always about our sicknesses. Think about it, no one really wants to hear about your bowel movements or your last medical procedure..... Give it a break. Smile once in a while and don't feel as if you have to give your advice to everyone you come in contact with. They don't want that either.....
Good luck to all you seniors out there, and I don't mean the ones still in high school. Try talking to a teen once in a while, you'll be surprised how much you can learn from them!!!! Just today, even my granddaughter Samantha (2 1/2 years old) taught Gommy something. I was watching her for my daughter, and Samantha was playing 'dress-up'. I asked her who she was and she said she was a Princess. I asked her who Gommy was and she said Cinderella....and I thought that was quite a coincidence since Gommy sometimes feels like Cinderella, but the one BEFORE the Prince comes to rescue her. Then she suggested that Grandpa Mike could be the King. I asked who Mommy could be and she said 'Ariel'. (FYI -Ariel is the Mermaid of movie fame). Then I asked who Daddy could be and she said, "Eric". Of course I played along but I didn't have a clue who Eric was. When Mommy got home, she informed me that Eric is Ariels' significant other.... DUH - seems you can even learn from a toddler. Now get started on those words.....
