Writing is like being able to put life into a snow globe. It takes the things that are too big and scary and reduces them into a form that I can put away when I want and look at from a distance. It also takes all that’s good in life and captures it into something I can take out when I want and look at close up and keep forever. It makes the bad things into something I can hold…and the good things into something I can hold onto. Both help so much that I need that little souvenir of life.

Sunday, August 2, 2015

Succinctly Yours Week 229: A Simple Mistake

Many thanks to Grandma of Grandma’s Goulash for hosting Succinctly Yours. Participants are invited to pick a story of 140 words or 140 characters or fewer based on the photo. This week’s bonus word was “zit.”



The volcano was called Mount Acme, but Mrs. Bly and Mrs. Snow misunderstood. Every day they met to discuss whether Mt. Acne—they’d nicknamed it The Zit—might pop.  136

While writing this, I kept getting distracted thinking of words my son came up with when he was a toddler. Sometimes his interpretation made more sense than the real word. Two that come to mind offhand are animals he renamed “honey-bird” and “poke-you-pine.” Can you think of any mistaken words that make more sense than the real thing? Have a great week!

Aquaintance about finding me a boyfriend at my age: “Don’t worry—we’ll find you someone who’s extinguished.” (What I thought but didn’t say: That’s what I’m afraid of....)


15 comments:

  1. Hari OM
    Nicely squeezed Tammy! Like you I went a bit off-piste today.

    As a family we have many word substitutes .... and one of my 'meno' symx has been to get quite verbally dyslexic. Love the poke-u-pine though! YAM xx

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  2. Love your son's made up words. Ha. And that quote! Hilarious!

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    1. Thanks, Lynn. I think he still has a very practical way of looking at the world.

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  3. Tammy--I love "poke you pine." I hope you wrote down some of his funny sayings and stories. (They grow up too fast.)

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    1. I did, and they sure do. Hard to believe that little boy is now a high school biology teacher.

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  4. You picked a winner with Mt. Acne!

    Can't think of any good mistaken words, except when my middle school son referred to a robin as a har-bringer of spring.

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    1. I broke out in laughter when I read your comment.

      I like har-bringer. We all need more hars, especially in spring.

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  5. When I read the bonus word, I couldn't wait to see what you'd come up with. You delivered far and above, as usual! Love Mt. Acme! And I love love love the quote! We all certainly worry about being extinguished, don't we?

    You would think being with my creative three-year-old grandbaby quite a lot, I could relate a bunch of words, but none come to mind at the moment. He talks a mile a minute (as you know, though he was good at the movie!). He loves to watch "bideos" on Nana's phone, and his word for "because" is "beeze." I just love the way their little minds work, and Sioux is so right: they grow up way too fast.

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    1. Last time I talked to him, after his family had suffered a power outage, I noticed he told me their power had been "knocked over." Not knocked out. I got the impression he thought something that was once powerful was in a fight, and something knocked it over and it fell down and possibly got lost and couldn't find its way home. Which makes perfect sense from a three-year-old's perspective! Your grand baby sure is a sweetie!

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    2. Aww, thanks, Tams! It does make sense from a three-year-old's perspective, doesn't it?! He might have been trying to tell you that someone had driven into a pole and knocked it over, hence the power outage. He does certainly have his stories :)

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  6. Hilarious, though the visual you offer up is disgusting. lol I laughed my butt off, because it's funny as all get out, but managed to say, "Ewww!" at the same time. Brilliant.

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    1. Well we really could blame Grandma for the word, "zit." So let's do that! ;) I so appreciate your visits, Lisa!

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  7. Good one, Tammy! Grandma sure gives some tricky bonus words, but you always find a way.

    Pat
    Critter Alley

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  8. Thanks so much for the encouragement, Pat! Or maybe excuse for my disgusting-ness?! Either way, I'll take it. :)

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