It's all about the genes and we ain't talking denim honey!

Today at lunch mama said that she felt her heart attack coming on which got quite the response out of Chantel, who looked at mama and said, "What are you talking about?" and mama promptly replied, "Its all in the genes." Chantel had a confused look on her face and I said, in an effort to clear things up a bit "It's all about the genes honey and we ain't talking denim." After we had a good chuckle about that mama went on to tell her how medical problems were hereditary which lead to gene pools and we had our usual gripe about there being very few blond hair, blue eyed, good looking boys left and some comments were made about me being adopted but she said I looked too much like our bunch for that to be true. This whole conversation left me thinking about the things we say everyday that makes our language uniquely ours. Our family says some of the craziest stuff. And if truth be told, (which rarely is around here, we live with a bunch of avid fishers and hunters!) everybody has their own language. I walked into work after lunch and my co-worker Jonn was walking down the hall with a sour look on his face. I asked him what was wrong and he said, "Well I was just tired, but now I tired and full as a tick." I must have heard that a million times growing up. And there are so many more, for example from Uncle Jamie "That girl is crazy as a run over dog" or "You better be careful he's as crazy as a sprayed roach." The list could go for miles! "She's was moviing like a cat on a hot tin roof," or "He is as happy as a dead pig in the sunshine." Being southerners I think we have all heard these and many more throughout our lives. But in true Musgrove fashion those little quips of culture we use everyday weren't enough. Thus, Arminda and Aunt Katrina have started their very own language. The story is told of those two walking around the garden center at Wal-Mart trying to help Kaleb pick out plants for the new place they just finished building. So of course they are looking and picking up, reading info about the different plants and searching for just the right one. Well one unfortunate plant was left in the aisle where unsuspecting Aunt Katrina was trying to walk. She had a run in with the plant and she won! The poor plant wound up getting stepped on an kicked at the same time. This just appalled Arminda and she told Aunt Katrina that she was just a "plantabusanationer". Yes, she did! She just made up a word she thought was appropriate and every single one of us knew exactly what she was talking about! Daddy mixes up the letters of words intentionally. A good example of that would be, "That shickled the tit out of me!" or "that was fang dunny". My all time favorite that we said as kids was, "I am gonna slottybam you!" We've taken our fair share from the movies, like Medea's "Hellur", and her "call the po-po ho". And then there is the whole "Don't be so ugly" phrase that gets used on us heathens all the time. It is probably my favorite. The ugly in that sentence has nothing to do with physical beauty. We are a right good lookin' bunch if I do say so myself, but we aren't always pretty. It means be nice and kind, pretty in word and deed as well as appearance. Sometimes the most gorgeous girl you've ever seen is just plain ugly! And as grandpa would say, "I know she can't help it but she could stay home." To which grandma adds, "Bless her little heart." Some of us are just "bass ackwards" but wouldn't know hateful if it run over us, although it has tried! Sometimes we let it win and thus the "don't be ugly" makes its second appearance. My favorite language that my crew uses has no words. I have been told as much with a hug from my daddy as he could have ever put into words. A look from mama with her pursed lips has stopped be faster in my tracks than any jake brake on a semi. That pat on the shoulder from Aunt Katrina, that she learned from Granddaddy James, can heal those unreachable pains. Seeing Aunt Randy coming flying sideways "up in here amongst us" when you are alone and facing trouble makes you step a little higher and dare somebody to try you. Kinda makes me wanna holler "charge" without her ever even speaking a word. Grandpa's whistle means he's home and so are you. Uncle Jamie's laugh says that there is a little goodness left in the world. Uncle Monroe can raise those eyebrows and ask 100 questions without so much as a whisper. Randall's wink lets me know that my secrets are in the safest place. A shake of Grandma Kennedy's head and we all knew we were in trouble. Arminda's rolling her eyes tells all AGAIN for the 100th time that she ain't impressed. Trey throwing them hands up means he's done all he can. Daddy pulling his pants up with his wrist means somebody is gonna get a good talking to and the pitter patter of small feet on the more than 6 little ones that we have running around sounds like love to me. Hali's hands holding yours says that you got a friend in her. Mehgan's hands in my hair says that the miles don't matter and that time makes everything better. The whistle you hear in the woods when you are lost is one of the most welcoming things is the world. We all have our own ways, culture, and language. As grandpa would say, "nod your head, you know what I'm talk about"!

~AzK~