Opinion

'A Word to the Wise'

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Many middle age plus readers grew up hearing familiar maxims daily that governed our actions and made perfect sense to us. But when we try using these same sayings with our grandchildren or great grandchildren we are often faced with either a blank stare or a look of pity. They often think the old dear has really lost it now.

Recently our great-granddaughter was complaining about her younger sister leaving things on the floor. I said, "Well, that's the skillet calling the kettle black!" Even when I explained the symbolism of the saying she still didn't think it made sense.

That started me thinking about other terms that made our language colorful in the past but aren't understood by the modern-day youth, especially those with no rural background.

Explaining that an acquaintance was always the black sheep of the family doesn't ring any bell for those who have had no contact with sheep of any color.

Some terms have been used so long we don't really associate the origin of the saying with what is actually meant. For example, kicking the bucket or bought the farm, are both terms announcing a death. Yet, how they came to have this meaning is unknown to me. I hope some reader will explain it to me, but I do know, and have known for years, what is meant by the terms.

Some more modern sayings such as, "I think I've heard that song before," are usually understood by the younger generation, but sometimes the youngest ones are puzzled because no music was even involved in the conversation.

Why is it that the breadwinner is described as "bringing home the bacon," and for that manner why use the term "breadwinner"? The bread is not won; it is bought with money that we worked for. We kept our nose to the grindstone for several hours to raise the dough to buy the bread.

Many younger people would have no idea what a grindstone is, or what it has to do with our noses. As a matter of fact I have a little trouble with that one since the grindstones I have seen in use would cause quite a bit of discomfort if I put my nose very close to it.

I would much rather just return to the salt mines to complete my jobs instead of dealing with the grindstones. I guess if you do return to the salt mines you could earn enough to be worth your salt.

Many of our maxims have to do with being busy, or being diligent about our responsibilities.

"A stitch in time saves nine," is easily understood if you have ever watched a seam continue to separate after the first tear begins. Some other similar sayings are not quite so easy to understand. "A rolling stone gathers no moss" can at first seem to indicate that we obtain more by doing nothing. However my parents used it to point out that those who jumped from one job to another never got much of anything accomplished. Since I wasn't a big fan of moss anyway, it didn't bother me too much.

I'm sure by now if you have bothered to read this far you will wonder if I am not talking out of both sides of my mouth at once. If that's what you think you can just let it go in one ear and out the other. But I hope you won't make me eat my words.