Our host, Linda:
What sort of sayings, colloquialisms, or proverbs did your family say when you were growing up? When were they used? What do you find yourself saying that you vowed you would never say? What do you say that drives your kids nuts? Is there a regional aspect to your speech? Do you have an accent and were you ever teased about it?
One time, long ago, I went to visit my brother Peter in San Diego. I traveled with Pete's twin Jonathon. We took the trip to attend Pete's wedding.
The Southern California natives laughed at our Boston accents. But the fun didn't really start till the twins decided they needed beer and whiskey.
We got in the car and while Jonathon drove, Pete acted as navigator. We made a short detour to pick up Javier, Pete's best man.
Javier and I sat in the back and laughed as the twins fell into their old habit of arguing about everything.
But after awhile Javier asks me "Where we goin?"
I said "To the packy and the grocery store."
And then...
Javier: Packy? What's a packy?
Me: A package store.
Javier: You need to mail something?
Me: No, they want beer and whiskey.
Javier: What do you need a package for?
Me: No. They're going to the packy. To get beer and booze.
Javier: But what do you need packages for?
Pete from the front seat: We're going to the liquor store!
Javier: Why didn't you just say so in the first place?
Me: I did!
After the successful trip to the packy, we head to get groceries.
Javier and I sat in the back talking , while Pete tried to get Jonathon to the grocery store. This became a study in terror. The twins and I come from a very rural area and our home city of Boston is not at all like San Diego. Jonathon was not used to the traffic of San Diego or the left turn lanes.
With all the yelling between the two of them, I just tightened my belt and my grip on the armrest and kept my eyes out my window. Until I heard Pete yelling "Expletive Expletive! Bang a you-ey! Bang a you-ey expletive expletive!
Javier: What is going on now?
Me: I'm not sure. I wasn't looking.
Javier: I don't think he should be banging anything on this car. It's a rental!
Me: Huh?
Javier: He said bang a you-ey! I don't think he has that much insurance on this rental to be banging into things!
Me: Ahhh, no. We need to make a U-turn!
Safely make your way over to Mocha with Linda to see more Flashback Friday!
Regional colloquialisms are fun. I also love it when a colloquialism familiar to one nationality totally freaks the mind of someone of another nationality. I asked one of my students once if the cat had his tongue, and the poor kid stuck his tongue out and tried to look at it.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of a packy. It's been such fun to read all these flashbacks!
ReplyDeleteGood one! My sister went to live in Boston, so her kids were raised there -- one year they were visiting and my older sisters went out together, all us kids were home. My nephews (my age) asked my Mom for a "frap" and they were all nearly in tears trying to work it out. Took forever to figure it was a milkshake -- and then we made it all "wrong"!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you survived San Diego
:-D
bang a you-ey...reminds me of 'hockalugie'...hahahahA!
ReplyDeletethe differences of surrounding, wow!
LOL! I grew up Yankee (Maine) and would have understood every word of that! :)
ReplyDeleteNever heard of those before!
ReplyDelete