Aug 29, 2015

Puss 'n' Boots language

A while back I used the word "lovely" in a conversation among two or three close friends. One of them took me gently to task for girly-girl talk. No big deal, but I was reminded of it this morning.

Once in a while I go through a breakfast ritual. Eggs just right, coffee with real cream and sugar, well-buttered toast, a pancake and maple syrup.  And a book, good book, just weighty enough to engage my facilities but not so idea-packed as to overstrain those facilities so early in the day.

Today: Meriwether Lewis is speaking through his journal. Entertaining as I do the the most confident hope of succeeding in a voyage which had formed a darling project of mind for the last ten years...

"Darling?"

That sounds pretty puss 'n' bootsie, but considering the source, I'd be very reluctant to call the man on it. If there's a pantheon of tough guys in the American tradition, Lewis is in it.

(I use Puss 'n Boots as a substitute for you-know-what, a term midway along the scale of vulgarity and hence unsuitable for a family-oriented pessay. Wait. I mean essay.)

So, with the great  and brave explorer behind me,  I think I'll worry less about a drop or two of lilac water lacing my speech.

Don't you find that lovely?

5 comments:

Rob said...

When Lewis wrote in his diary the "gay" meant happy. Have a good weekend.

Tewshooz said...

Well, gay used to mean happy until the perverts bastardized it.

UK Houston said...

It's important to consider who is saying it. An obvious alpha can get away with a "lovely" now and again. He can also sit down to piss when it's convenient (2 a.m. in the dark). Those less sure of themselves are the ones who think such things mean something. From a strong man, a normally feminine locution thrown in at the right time can really throw the real beta-boys for a loop.

NotClauswitz said...

I have a Brit friend who has no problem using the word "lovely" - but maybe he has an accent-exemption.

Anonymous said...

Check with your gene pool. Doing so will remind you that "darling" is a perfectly acceptable adjective from the Emerald Isle. "Lovely" is not far behind. JAGSC