Weird Blank and Blanking Great

Language changes — a lot. In an email to my daughter the other day, I actually went so far as to step out of character and use the expression "Weird S" (where S is short for a certain four letter word).

I was speaking of her son, my grandson, who had a severe meltdown early that morning but was happy and charming thereafter. It took two TWs* to stop the meltdowns, but then he reverted to the very good Zach. So, I wrote "Weird S" because that's what the change was — totally weird and inexplicable.

In this sense, although I guess it can mean stuff, the S-word is almost meaningless in terms of its original sense. I suspect that when you consider how it's commonly used that has been true for quite some time. To me, it's meaning is pretty well empty in and of itself itself as I simply used it as a strong modifier: a way of adding just a whole lot of emphasis to its companion word: ie really really extraordinarily weird.

Then, after an otherwise fine morning, he slept for more than three hours. Although I kept this comment to myself at the time, I did think that was "Effing Great" (where the real word was not effing if you catch my drift) to enjoy such a break on a tired day. Once again, for me it became an emphasis word, totally removed from its original meaning as in so super duper wonderfully great.

Now, I'm not exactly a potty-mouthed sort of guy, and I personally wouldn't use those words a lot, and even then I would be careful about to whom I might express them. I wouldn't say them here for example, and I even hesitate to even write about this at all, even in this euphemistic manner. However, I can't seem to help myself from remarking at how the language continues to evolve and that even normally pure and circumspect moi can sometimes drawn into the more common vernacular.

In fact I find it effing amazing!

*Note1: Therapeutic Withdrawal in this case involved putting the boy in his crib for a while, not to sleep but just gather himself. He doesn't mind being there, and it seems to calm him. Some educators use the term as a euphemism of sorts for what used to be called a suspension.

**Note2: This blog will now return to its blasé and predictable use of language. In the meantime, please pardon my French.