Say What?
At one time or another we have all received a backhanded compliment, that statement that really isn’t an insult, but definitely not flattering. Even kids know when something isn’t quite right with an overly cordial comment, and all in all, if you have to ask, then you already know the answer.
“Is that a compliment or an insultment?”
Epic Fail
Now that my six year-old, Azul, has incorporated the word “epic” into his vocabulary, I have a totally different view of the utterance.
I always used it in its traditional sense, a long poem of heroic deeds, such as, The Iliad and The Odyssey. That definition gives the word a romantic feel, something to ponder, it takes you on a journey to enjoy.
Webster defines it as:
1) a long narrative poem in elevated style recounting the deeds of a legendary or historical hero
2) a work of art (as a novel or drama) that resembles or suggests an epic
Today, either used alone or paired with “fail,” it has lost its perception of grandeur. No longer is it a beautiful way to experience a legend, but a word that is only defined as “big.”
I know many terms come in and out of fashion and have a circular life cycle; that makes me wonder if Homer was belittled by his peers who said, “Epic? Bahahaha! Dude that totally just means ‘big.’ ”
Although I am not willing to completely give up on the romanticism of the word, currently, anyone using or overusing “epic” just seems as if they have the vocabulary of a first grader, or they’re trying way too hard.
“That was epic!”
Azulism #19
Feeling Something Heavy
I can’t believe it’s is already the end of the school year! I feel like it was just yesterday I was crying about my baby going into kindergarten and now he is heading to first grade. He has learned so much, I have really seen him blossom into a lover of learning and he is more than prepared to take it to the next level.
While reflecting on my pride of my six year-old’s accomplishments this year, he came home from school with something new he had learned, and it goes a little something like this:
“When you’re riding in your Chevy …”
Carmelina Hart 