The writer hopes that the reader will have fun discovering why some of the following phrases that are spoken have been inherited phrases that are unique to the speaker.
Dead As a Doornail:
Anything from a withered house plant to a failed project that is beyond resurrecting is most likely described as being “dead as a doornail.”
Today, the recent invention of both mechanical and electrical doorbells announces the visitor’s arrival. In days of yore, a visitor announced their arrival by pounding with a knocker upon a metal plate nailed to the door.
Sometimes, it took several blows to attract attention. That meant nails holding the knocking plate suffered a lot of punishment. Repeatedly hit on its head, such a nail had the life pounded out of it so effectively that nothing could be deader. Thus, the phrase “dead as a doornail” came into being.
Fit As a Fiddle:
Nearly a thousand years ago, the stringed fiddle was popular in England. Sizes and shapes varied, as well as the number and length of strings.
All of these fiddles were handmade, and most were played in rural settings. Both players and listeners knew when the tension of the strings was just not right or when the instrument was warped. The undamaged one that was properly adjusted was in top shape, or “fit” to use with an audience.
Hundreds of years later, a person experiencing good health is still said to be as “fit as a fiddle” — well tuned, and undamaged, that is.
These two phrases now have some historical value in the reader’s speech.
Instructions for life’s journey include the following:
1. Have a firm handshake.
2. Wave at kids on the school buses.
3. Don’t expect life to be fair.
4. Always accept an outstretched hand.
5. Be the first to say “hello.”
Autumn arrived with a jacket to wear. Weather has drastically changed from last week’s hot, humid days. Morning temperatures ranged from 33 to 41 degrees, with signs of frost here and there. This urged the monarch butterflies and hummingbirds to begin packing their suitcases to head south for the winter — flying farther south from where the “snow birds” go. Even the crickets got into the act with their mournful chirps.
Quotes for the week are as follows:
“No one ever died from sleeping in an unmade bed.” — Erma Bombeck
“Term limits would cure senility and seniority, both terrible legislative diseases.” — Harry S. Truman
“Ah, September! You are the doorway to the season that awakens my soul.” — Peggy Toney Horton
“Take bread away from me, take away water if you wish; but never deny me your smile.” — Pablo Neruda
“It takes courage to be kind.” — Maya Angelou
Sitting inside is best to hear the “Talk of the Grove.”
Saturday, Becky and Ben Puffenbarger enjoyed the Queen City Mischief and Magic in Staunton, Virginia.
Saturday’s Ronald Pitsenbarger benefit was a huge success. Food, bake sale, homemade goods, along with the silent auction items, and donations made it a huge success to help defray Ronald’s medical expenses. The Ronald crew wore identical T-shirts which added to the atmospheric mix.
Clickety-clacks for the chin waggers are as follows:
•Red cars are outlawed in Shanghai, China, and other automobile colors are assigned according to the owner’s profession
•If a person is arrested for drunken driving in Malaysia, one goes to jail. (So does one’s wife.)
•In Reykjavik, Iceland, it’s illegal to keep a dog as a pet.
•If a person curses within earshot of a woman in Egypt, the law says one forfeits two days’ pay.
•In pre-Islamic Turkey, if a wife let the family coffee pot run dry, her husband was free to divorce her.
October birthdays include Carson Mitchell and Liz Bodkin, first; Nathan Puffenbarger, third; Billy Eckard, fourth; Mary Jane Bolton and Ryan Mitchell, fifth; Angie Nelson and Rodney Kiser, sixth; Patty Bolton and Galen Crummett, eighth; Stanley Simmons and Jim Schulz, ninth; Travis Owens and Marie Simmons, 10th; Kathy Eye, Braden McClannahan and Shirley Mitchell, 13th; and Ann Thompson, 16th.
Concerns are for Roger and Joan Ashley, Mercedes Aumann, Dave Basagic, “Bo” Boggs, Stanley Dahmer, Clinton Eye, Isaac Eye, Brenda Fisher, Carl Gant, Sue Hall, Clyde Hamilton, Chip Harper, Armanda Heavner, Starr Hedrick, Keith Hoover, Tim L. Hoover, Mickey Huffman, Cynthia Hurry, Gary Jamison, Mike and Lisa Jamison, Tara Kelley, Keith Kimble, Lori Ann Lambert, Melissa Lambert, Skip and Roger Mallow, Yvonne Marsh, Harold Michael, Dennis Mitchell, Dottie Mitchell, Helen Nash, Willa Nelson, Ronald Pitsenbarger, Alda Propst, family and friends of Sheldon Propst, Eldon Puffenbarger, Willard Rader, Jimmy Rexrode, Robbie Sites, Carolyn Smith, Kitty and Curtis Waggy, Jr., and Edwin Wimer.
