Wednesday

Sarah-isms

When you say (or write) as many words as I do, you're bound to have a few favorite phrases. Some phrases that are credited to me I'm not very proud of them being mine.

For instance, Mark Phillips says he thinks of me when he feels called to reply to a situation with:

"That is SO not my problem."
Yep, that was me -- not one of my finer empathetic moments, obviously. You have to understand, though, that Mark and I were on a committee that was likened to the Bataan Death March (that was NOT me) and Mark saw more than a few of my not-so-finer moments. I don't remember what I was referring to at that moment, but my underlying sentiment was, "Just please let this project END!!"

"Bless 'em!"
This one I will claim because it can mean any one of a number of things, depending on my tone and body language. With an eye roll and exasperated sigh, it's generally, "If the person we are discussing actually has thought processes, I am not following them." With tears in my eyes and a hand clenched to my chest, it means, literally, "BLESS THEM, LORD!! How much heartache and agony is one person supposed to take!" With a laugh and headshake, it means, "I love those people so much and am glad God put them in my life!"

Last night I had the opportunity to chat with the wife of one of Troy's cousins. She and I get to visit about every 3-5 years, but we enjoy each other's company SO much. I was relaying a story to her that included a daddy not watching a kid very carefully, so I said, "You know, sometimes the dads don't pay very close attention." Very knowingly she agreed by only saying, "Bless 'em." We are truly kindred spirits.

I may yet poll the kids to ask them what they think I say most frequently, but tonight, Riley used something that is 100% mine (oh, I'm ducking in shame to admit this world-wide):

ASHLEY!! Use your common sense filter!!!
Now, Ashley's name isn't always the one SHOUTED at the beginning of that phrase (I generally try not to shout at all) but it's frequently a safe bet. She can be blonder than God made her. Bless 'er! :-) But anyone who said there are no stupid questions has never spent more than 4 hours in a car with an 8 year old and a 10 year old. I beg to differ.

A couple I have thought of or that have been pointed out to me today -- both exclamations of frustration, usually:

Good googly-moogly!
Jee-hosaphat!

I'm sure there are a few more phrases out there floating around that people attribute to me. Hopefully, using much grace. Obviously, 1 Peter 4:11 is a moment-by-moment challenge for me:

If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.

11 comments:

Tammy M. said...

Good googly-moogly - Love it.

Anonymous said...

I'm very much liking the new one I have learned from "Super Nanny". How many times do you think you could use "Gobsmacked" in a day? I think tomorrow I will try.....

Roxanne said...

I shudder to think of the ones attributed to me. . .my stellar vocabulary as I write belies how I really speak. . .

"That scared the waddin' out of me"
(borrowed from my friend Carolyn)

I say "great googly-moogly" as opposed to "good googly-moogly"


"I have no idea" (one Thad picked up. . .and I wondered where from. . .and it turns out it's from me)

"Shoot a monkey" (I have NOOOOOOOO idea.)

"Egads!" (from some old movie with a flibbertygibbet. . .it would be like anonymous's love of "gobsmacked")

I also have a fondness for punctuation. . .

Anne said...

Don't forget my all time favorite Sarah-ism...'punkin'. Can't wait for you to see my new punkin again soon!

Roxanne said...

I have even heard her say, "Bless his/her little punkin' head."

It's true.

R--

Heth said...

I learned great googly-moogly from good old Maggie and the Ferocious Beast. I miss that show.....

Michelle- This One's for the Girls said...

I really liked "Use your common sense filter." I think I'll adopt that one!

My most common phrase is--
"Oh my stars!" I say it at least 20 times a day.

SuperMom said...

Yes, the common sense filter is great!!!

Can I borrow that one?

heartsjoy said...

LOL! common sense filter!

Anonymous said...

You mention at least one big difference between yourself and your daughter - I have no memory of your EVER making a blond utterance.

heartsjoy said...

Tag, Your it! Check out my blog for details!