Susan Writes

An unusual word I saw posted on Facebook, made me think of my paternal grandfather.  Papa was a first-class coddiwompler.  He usually drove to a particular place, but sometimes when I rode in his car with him when I was young, I’d ask where we were going.  He responded that we’d know when we got there, but he could’ve said, “We just going to coddiwomple.” He probably didn’t know that coddiwomple means to travel purposefully toward an as-yet-unknown or vague destination.

            Coddiwomple makes me think of Papa’s Sunday afternoon drives when he took Grandma on rides around Pickett and Overton counties.  He wanted to get Grandma out of the house, but there was never a destination and most often they didn’t stop except at a country market to get a cold drink, a carbonated beverage.

            Before leaving this word, I must share that several people commented on Facebook that coddiwomple is life’s journey. I agree. 

            My Granny often said, “Don’t put it cattywampus.” ‘It’ could have been a dish that she didn’t want me to put on the edge of the counter beside the kitchen sink or a quilt piece that she wanted me to lay on another with the straight edges even. Cattywampus is the similar to catty-corner when something isn’t lined up as need be.

            “You’re a nincompoop!” Oh, the many times I heard and said nincompoop when I was a kid.  Anyone acting silly was nincompoop.  I would never have said someone was stupid, but I’d say he was a nincompoop which meant the same thing.  This word is so fun for kids when the last syllable is shouted loud and long.

            I’m often bumfuzzled.  I’ve spent hours trying to find one piece to put in a jigsaw puzzle and out of frustration, I became flustered.  When someone tells me driving directions that involve more than three turns and landmarks or when I can’t understand what my young Grands say, I’m bumfuzzled.  This word is more fun to say that confused or perplexed because bumfuzzled rolls out of the mouth with a smile.

            Are you a lollygagger?  Do you waste time?  Do you spend time doing something that isn’t serious or useful?  Some procrastinators tend to lollygag, and people who don’t keep up on group hikes lollygag.  A beach or mountain cabin vacation is perfect for lollygagging, but lollygaggers aren’t appreciated when there’s work to be done.

            While searching out fun words, I learned that I suffer from abibliophobia.  Even when I’m reading a book, I want a few others stacked on my bedside table waiting to be read.  What if I decide the book I’m reading isn’t good? Even though my living room bookshelves hold books I’ve read, and Husband always has several interesting magazines, I need a stack (and it can’t be cattywampus) of unread books.  I truly fear running out of something to read.

            Coddiwomple, cattywampus, nincompoop, bumfuzzled, lollygag and abibliophobia – what fun words!  As I write these last words, I’m wabbit.  You probably feel that way too at the end of the day.

Filed under: Everyday Life | Tagged: fun words |