My Friend the Word Fiend
I have a very dear friend who has a rather refreshing attitude towards life. If she were dead she would be, right now, turning in her grave at been called “dear.” She is cringing as she reads this wondering how sentimental I’m going to get and is hoping, I am sure, that I do not mention her name. So to avoid embarrassment to her I shall call her, Celeste!
Now as I have said, Celeste has a rather refreshing attitude to life. She is exceptionally intelligent and had she the patience would likely spend her time studying and teaching the beauty and nuances of the English language. However, for Celeste, this use of her time and intelligence is far too grown up and rather stuffy. Yet it is something she could do without much effort at all. I am not afraid of English and I rather enjoy using complicated and little used words, I find them to be very descriptive and often much more enjoyable to use then the common everyday words that everyone relies on. Celeste, however, opened a whole new world to me with her almost insurmountable understanding and use of English. Often times I have received text messages with the oddest words I have ever seen, most of which are unpronounceable to me and most times appear to be unusable in day to day living. Celeste however seems able to use any word she finds as she peruses her dictionary.
She is unafraid of her intelligence and thinks nothing of regaling people with stories of her encounters with those blessed with a less than average intelligence in one moment then popping a condom over her head and blowing it up through her nose. I have attended staff meetings where she has imparted her wisdom and intelligence to all around her showing them how to do things easier and quicker, then pull me into the middle of the staff room to head bang wickedly to Just Jinger or Nirvana. I have had deep soul searching conversations with her one moment then laughed hysterically with her as we whispered “Rhubarb, rhubarb” to each other while in others company. I know she is capable of being extremely rational when explaining to her three delightful sons what is the right way to behave, and equally capable of jumping about her kitchen at two in the morning in a slinky black dress on a pogo stick. She is ready and willing to share her knowledge with those who are willing to learn, but equally ready to cower you into submission with a well aimed volley of words, the meanings of which you have no clue except perhaps in the scathing g tone of her voice. I have sat reading the dictionary with her found the most useless words imaginable and used them confusing all around us.
Celeste has introduced me to some of the best pieces of English literature, has inspired me to expand my reading to include the likes of Moby Dick or Les Miserable’s even if it was just to say I have read some books that she hasn’t. She has taught me not to be afraid of my intelligence and to never lower my standards to appease those less intelligent then myself. She has showed me the value of surrounding myself with those more intelligent than me and happily allowed me to share her knowledge. Learning from Celeste has given me the confidence to be cliché and “stand up and be counted.” She encouraged me to write poetry by sharing hers, encouraged me to improve my knowledge by sharing hers, and encouraged me to learn by sharing what I know with others. I know I will never be anywhere near as intelligent as Celeste, but she has always made me feel every bit her equal. I have never felt inferior in her intellect but empowered nor have I been made to walk in her shadow but rather in my own spotlight.
I am grateful to her for her unconditional friendship. I thank God for her intellect. I enjoy sharing the stories that are made from the moments and memories we have shared. I am sorry that we live on opposite sides of the world and cannot spend more than a cyber moment in each other’s company each day. I miss the many glasses of wine we have yet to drink, but not the boxes of kinickinicks we have yet to smoke. I look forward to the hours of yet unspoken flapdoodle, dictionary reading and word swapping.
Lastly, I must here give way to the sentimental and say about Celeste, that, and I do not use this term lightly, I love her dearly. One day we shall find our names in the headlines even if it’s just for singing Fernando at Karaoke.
Now as I have said, Celeste has a rather refreshing attitude to life. She is exceptionally intelligent and had she the patience would likely spend her time studying and teaching the beauty and nuances of the English language. However, for Celeste, this use of her time and intelligence is far too grown up and rather stuffy. Yet it is something she could do without much effort at all. I am not afraid of English and I rather enjoy using complicated and little used words, I find them to be very descriptive and often much more enjoyable to use then the common everyday words that everyone relies on. Celeste, however, opened a whole new world to me with her almost insurmountable understanding and use of English. Often times I have received text messages with the oddest words I have ever seen, most of which are unpronounceable to me and most times appear to be unusable in day to day living. Celeste however seems able to use any word she finds as she peruses her dictionary.
She is unafraid of her intelligence and thinks nothing of regaling people with stories of her encounters with those blessed with a less than average intelligence in one moment then popping a condom over her head and blowing it up through her nose. I have attended staff meetings where she has imparted her wisdom and intelligence to all around her showing them how to do things easier and quicker, then pull me into the middle of the staff room to head bang wickedly to Just Jinger or Nirvana. I have had deep soul searching conversations with her one moment then laughed hysterically with her as we whispered “Rhubarb, rhubarb” to each other while in others company. I know she is capable of being extremely rational when explaining to her three delightful sons what is the right way to behave, and equally capable of jumping about her kitchen at two in the morning in a slinky black dress on a pogo stick. She is ready and willing to share her knowledge with those who are willing to learn, but equally ready to cower you into submission with a well aimed volley of words, the meanings of which you have no clue except perhaps in the scathing g tone of her voice. I have sat reading the dictionary with her found the most useless words imaginable and used them confusing all around us.
Celeste has introduced me to some of the best pieces of English literature, has inspired me to expand my reading to include the likes of Moby Dick or Les Miserable’s even if it was just to say I have read some books that she hasn’t. She has taught me not to be afraid of my intelligence and to never lower my standards to appease those less intelligent then myself. She has showed me the value of surrounding myself with those more intelligent than me and happily allowed me to share her knowledge. Learning from Celeste has given me the confidence to be cliché and “stand up and be counted.” She encouraged me to write poetry by sharing hers, encouraged me to improve my knowledge by sharing hers, and encouraged me to learn by sharing what I know with others. I know I will never be anywhere near as intelligent as Celeste, but she has always made me feel every bit her equal. I have never felt inferior in her intellect but empowered nor have I been made to walk in her shadow but rather in my own spotlight.
I am grateful to her for her unconditional friendship. I thank God for her intellect. I enjoy sharing the stories that are made from the moments and memories we have shared. I am sorry that we live on opposite sides of the world and cannot spend more than a cyber moment in each other’s company each day. I miss the many glasses of wine we have yet to drink, but not the boxes of kinickinicks we have yet to smoke. I look forward to the hours of yet unspoken flapdoodle, dictionary reading and word swapping.
Lastly, I must here give way to the sentimental and say about Celeste, that, and I do not use this term lightly, I love her dearly. One day we shall find our names in the headlines even if it’s just for singing Fernando at Karaoke.
Thank you Polly I am delighted, apart from the Celeste bit, but you knew that! I love you too and miss you muchly. xx
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