Two words jumped out at me this morning.
But first. I get an entire “slew” of information in my email each day. I sign up for a lot of it. Things like interesting science facts, or, the list of people born on each day. But not only from U.S. based sites. I try to read these “articles” from different places around the world, who will publish them in English. This barrage of needless information sometimes gives me an idea. And then I write.
So this morning, I see a couple of people featured in a “Today’s Birthday” Section, whom I do not know. George Mikan and George Mallory. Mallory sounds familiar, but the face wasn’t ringing any bells. But Mikan. No clue.
As it turns out, Mallory died in 1924. Mikan was born in 1924. A bit coincidental. Mallory was a climber of Everest and other great mountains. Mikan was a star basketball player in the NBA in the 1940s. One of the first “big” men. Their achievements, in both of their lives, were quite outstanding. Admirable. Way up there. No pun intended in either case.
Which brings me to the first word I thought of this morning.
Heyday. It is described as the period of a person’s greatest success. The time of their highest popularity, or vigor, robustness, or vitality. One’s Heyday. I guess, by that description, we all have our heydays in life. The time when we were, or are, at our best.
I must have blinked during mine. Or perhaps, it hasn’t rolled around just yet. Either way, I think that since I live in the country now, I am much closer to having Hay Days.
Nonetheless. Mikan and Mallory certainly must have had theirs. People probably recognized them on the street, or in restaurants. They probably wore fine suits when they weren’t climbing, or dribbling. Maybe the women ogled. But for either one, that was a long time ago. And the longer it gets, I imagine fewer and fewer people will remember their names, or their great lifetime achievements. It is a little sad, really. Heydays fleet.
And the next word that sprung out in front of me this morning was Jabberwocky. I have long been a fan of Jabberwocky, the word, It is just that I haven’t heard it in some time. I like to say it a bunch of times, fast. Jabberwocky, Jabberwocky, Jabberwocky. And. It always reminds me of a character in Star Wars. I think they should have had a Nation of Jabberwockies on the Planet Malgatroid. Maybe they did, and I can’t remember the episode of the 58 Star Wars movies that are out these days.
Of course, “Jabberwocky” is defined as a meaningless speech or writing. I think of it more as worthless drivel. Nonsense. Twaddle. The old Mumbo Jumbo with a little Poppycock stirred in.
Here’s what else I’ve noticed. Right now, in the mouths of our leading politicians, and on social media — Jabberwocky is having its Heyday.
I sure wish Peace, Understanding, and Kindness would have their Heydays soon. Maybe it’s already happening, on the Planet of Malgatroid. With Enlightened Jabberwockies. Maybe.
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“Fate is like a strange, unpopular restaurant filled with odd little waiters who bring you things you never asked for and don’t always like.”
― Lemony Snicket
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“This life’s hard, but it’s harder if you’re stupid.”
― George V. Higgins, The Friends of Eddie Coyle
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“I was gratified to be able to answer promptly, and I did. I said I didn’t know.”
― Mark Twain
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