Growing up in a large family, different personalities and unique experiences serve as a catalyst for colorful diction and ways to identify the members of my family as distinctly different from anyone else.
Scattered across the country, my family finds time to get together every summer on the coast of Jonesport, Maine. Jonesport, a tiny town nestled on the water, holds memories, stories, and three houses belonging to my relatives. Being up there secluded from reality clears the mind and always encourages slight changes to normal vocabulary. Not words, in particular, but phrases identify landmarks of our family and this place. For instance, if someone was wondering where "the big ol' handsome man" was, we'd know he was probably fetching sticks at Sandy River Beach or lazily patrolling the gardens; he is the most lovable Bernese Mountain dog to ever serve as a watch man. "The Big House" refers to the Bed and Breakfast my family bought many years ago that we use as a house to fit our ever expanding brood. "The Big Five" was the way my grandfather instilled fear in me and my cousins. When we were little, he told us the story of how my dad lied about something as a child and as a result, got "the big five," a spanking prohibiting him from sitting for the next week. "Fallen Angel" is the nickname of our cousin Bella, a title acquired after an miscommunication during Pictionary. Another cousin, Fallon, is a gifted dancer and agreed to teach us one of her numbers. To the song, "Shake Your Tambourine," she tried unsuccesfully to demonstrate the "shakey shakey drop;" two steps forward, some hip shaking, and a head throw, dropping to one side.
At home in Denver, we have a whole different dictionary. Names for our dog is the category of words that changes most often. Our 2 year old vizla, Copper, is frequently called Cop, Copper Doo, Copper Dudest, Dudest Man, Moodest, Moo... mostly any variation on the words dudest and moodest... There is no definiton or reason for any of these names that he chooses to ignore, they are just the creative name manipulations of my younger sister. Backing up to my earlier years in Houston, the other pets we had were cockroaches, "walkin' bees," is the term I coined at one and a half.
On a sad note, we all know what "the anniversary" is. Not a wedding or a birthday, "the anniversary" is March 10, the day when, 7 years ago, my dad was killed in a skiing accident. I think of him on "blue sky days" when clouds are non-existent as we ski. His grave is in Jonesport, on a hill overlooking the marina. Every year we return to "The Big House" to celebrate what we still have and honor those things time has washed away.
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4 comments:
I found this writing very whimsical (almost fairy tale like) during the first parts and very moving and emotional towards the end. The fammily's discourse seems to be centered around landmarks, objects outside of the family itself rather than how they talk to one another directly. This stuck out to me becuase it was almost exactly the opposite of my own. I think it is very obvious what words/phrases mean a lot to this family and it would be clear that no one outside of the family would ever be able to share the same dialogue and memories that this one shares. Her family discourse seems like it has deep rooted history with not only her immediate family but also her extended family, which I think is really cool.
With all that sad the last part of the 'investigation' broke my heart. But it is clear again that even in the face of the catastrophe of losing a love oned her famlily has pulled together. My deepest sympathy to you; and I really loved this piece of writing.
This was a wonderful read. To see the love for things like pets and places really relates to my own family as well. You can definitely tell there is a unique language that only members of this family can communicate with. I'm so sorry for the loss of your father. God Bless, and I look forward to reading more of your writing!
I liked your blog because it shows a look at language of a whole family, one having shared common terms even though they are far apart now. The way you wrote about the language made it all seem as though your common words and nicknames came from common memories and shared experiences, and each word/phrase was formed together and everyone knows the story of how the words became a part of everyday speech. Your blog was interesting because it was a way to see that family ties with language can last over time based on the memories that the family built together.
It was very well written I must say first, and I enjoyed it very much. I also wrote about traveling and family vacations. They are the best way to look back on family interractions and language. Your land descriptions were beautiful. Your family descriptions were honest. EVen if I have known a little about you before, I feel like I know so much more through this exercise. It's wonderful to see that even if some things remind you of your dad, you have a strong connection to your childhood and being a young girl. Your story and memories are beautiful. Thank you
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