Oy! I’m tied in knots–I’m in “over-think” and “over-analysis!” I can’t even write without wondering which words I’m using incorrectly. So, in an effort to continue, please forego any criticism of the written word for now!

This morning I did it again—I corrected my husband’s mispronunciation of a word, in this case, a person’s name, Maureen Dowd. He got angry and asked me, “Why do you need to correct me all the time?” I was about to comment that “all the time” was a generalization, but decided not to add fuel to the fire! “I don’t know,” I stammered, looking down at the Sunday paper. And thus, today’s topic is: Mispronunciation: What’s the big deal?

When I went to school, teachers drilled us on grammar and pronunciation (Don’t you love the “When I went to school…” or “When I was young… lead-in? Can we say “old” and “exaggerated”?). To this day I’ve been known to sweat over stuff like whether quotation marks go before or after the punctuation mark! My personal Achilles’ Heel (I must be missing Crete’s Blue Palace, www.bluepalace.gr  today —Pandora and Achilles references!) is not so much the written word–it’s the spoken word. There is nothing cute or folksy about using “ain’t” or, adding insult to injury, using it with “no” and creating a double negative—”ain’t no big deal” (ouch, my fingers spasmed while typing that!). Another phrase that’s been known to make me cringe is the teenage habit of beginning a sentence with “Me and …”   (”I” for subject and “me” for object —grrrr!).

So, Barbara, what’s the big deal? Is it the love of correct grammar or of just being correct? Is it better to be right than kind? I know I have some strong feelings tied up in pronunciation and they are not pretty feelings. I realize that I put a lot of judgement in speaking correctly—words like intelligent, well-read, well-bred (another ouch to admit), worldly—in plain English, being “better than” comes up for me. Carrying this to a different scenario, if a child in Nairobi’s Mukuru slum came up to me, hugged me, and said, “Me love you!”, would I correct her or would I just be filled with love and hope and just hug her back?

In April Michael and I went to Rochester, NY, to celebrate Krista and David’s vow renewal (see April 23rd blog entry). Nobody spoke about Krista’s impending deployment or the bittersweet news that David wouldn’t be able to join Krista’s unit (Pardon my Army jargon–I may be using incorrect terms–unit? group? company? young people going into harm’s way?). Krista had asked that the focus of the vow renewal be the celebration of love and not the war in Iraq. And so we all obliged…

Fast forward to a month ago: Krista knew the date she’d be going to North Carolina to “refresh” (my word—not Krista’s) her military training and I was asked to keep any mention of this out of my blog. And so I obliged…

Krista recently blogged from North Carolina about her experiences, so I asked if I could now tell you that she has, indeed, begun the journey that leads her back to Iraq. I was told I could now discuss it. And so I oblige…

Krista, you have given so much of yourself to the people of Iraq already. You have helped many people with your insight and your actions. You have witnessed the deaths of some close friends, for example, a strong Iraqi woman who spoke out for women’s rights. You have carried their spirits, their struggles, back to the US and have helped us get to know them through you. You’ve been awarded a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. We are very proud of you and love you very much! We support you in everything you do, in every action you take.

I do not support the war that President Bush created, but I support you.

I do not support the changes President Bush made to the rules about “active duty” for the National Guard troops, but I support you.

I do not support the chaos you will enter when you return to Iraq, but I support you.

http://desertdivairaq.blogspot.com/

http://www.icasualties.org/oif/

Early this morning I awakened, looked at the clock, “Oh, 5:14 AM, I can sleep a little longer!” As I drifted back to sleep I thought about what I wanted to write on my blog today. “What a great idea! Absolutely perfect! I can’t wait to blog today!”

When I “officially” awakened, stretched, and got out of bed, I warmed up yesterday’s coffee (Yes, I am that lazy and don’t have a gourmet coffee palate!), and padded into designated “computer room” (which translates into a room that houses a desktop computer with large screen for aging eyes–the laptop can be visually challenging at times!).

I sat down in front of the computer, logged on, read my email, “surfed” the Internet (you did see my new movie, didn’t you “The Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer”—oy! My son actually spent money to see it last night!) and finally logged into the blog.

And….

I have no clue what that wonderfully perfect idea was that I had in those minutes of twilight sleep!

If I had a dollar for every brilliant thought, finely-honed comment, and perfect solution to a pressing problem that came to me during the night I could retire! It seems that my most brilliant moments and my biggest fears grow in the dark and retreat in the light of day. I don’t mind the fears disappearing—in fact, that’s a gift; but, I sure miss those “15 minutes of fame” that elude me when those magnificent thought dissolve upon awakening!

  Please, please, please click on the image to preview the ultra cool Save the Date card we’re sending for Great Getaways 15th Anniversary Bash!

Now, for those of you who aren’t susceptible to my pleading here’s the info in readable text:

SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD 15TH ANNIVERSARY BASH!  SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH AT ARTichokes IN MISSION FARMS

 If you tell me you can read the image to the left without enlarging it, I want the name of your opthamologist! It reads:

The Leawood travel agency that gives you the luxury of experience is turning 15! Treat yourself to a night of experience at ARTichokes, Leawood’s premier art space in Mission Farms, Sunday, September 16, 2007, 7 – 10 PM, ARTichokes, 10557 Mission Road, Leawood; Light Hors d’ Oeuvres; Cruise & Vacation Silent Auction to Benefit Alzheimers Association; Sponsored by: Great Getaways, Virgin Galactic, Holland America Line, Creative Leisure, ARTichokes, Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, SPACES magazine

No need to read on because I know you’re anxious to put the date in your calendar, pda, or perhaps create a tasteful tattoo reminder!