Friday, July 04, 2008

Tom Seltzer and Magnesium P.I.

When your babies begin to talk, really talk for the first time, it is always fascinating to listen to how they string syllables and grunts into words, sometimes creating entirely new ways to say things that have been said over and over again.

Some kids hang on to those creative dialects of their babyhood, as the mispronunciations become habit and hard to break. That's when it can get annoying for the parents, well, at least for my husband and myself. Because while I find it endearing and cute to hear a 2-year-old say something like "Can I have some poppa-sicle pwease?" it is not so cute when a 10-year-old says it.

One of Katie's little baby-talking hang-ups is saying "yet's" instead of "let's."

I am not advocating the employment of a speech therapist just yet, as she is only 3, but I know that in a few years, if she's still saying "yet's go daddy" it won't be nearly as effective as it is now. Hopefully she isn't using "yet's" during the teen years because I can just hear her, all sassy-like saying to her friends "yet's go to the mall."

The other evening, while enjoying the "new" deck, we were visiting with a certain family member who shall remain nameless because I do not want to embarrass her (although I know she could care less that I share this story).

She was telling us of a time, in the late 70's, when she and her friend vacationed in Hawaii. As she went on and on about how much fun the two women had terrorizing all of Waikiki with their bikini bods and permed hair-do's, she mentioned how her friend really wanted to ride in a "ricochet."

"A what?"

"A ricochet," she giggled, telling us about the little bicycles with the carts attached to the back that bring the tourists all around . . . like we didn't know what a "ricochet" was, jeez.

Then, she went on about the fact that she had passed up the opportunity to meet "Tom Seltzer," you know, that actor from that TV show . . . what was it? Oh yes, "Magnesium P.I."

After her Hawaii story was over, we somehow got on the subject of how we were growing a little tired of eating hot dogs, because of all the camping we'd been doing. Having been married to a butcher, she knows a lot about the meat.

"You know, if I'm going to have a hot dog," she began, "then I buy those Jewish ones."

I think Brett spit water out of his nose when she said that.

"They aren't Jewish hot dogs, they're kosher!" he said to her.

"I know," she said, "Highbrow National."

High brow indeed.

*Originally posted July 12, 2007. In honor of the holiday weekend, and since we will be spending most of it with great friends and family, I'd love to hear your funny family tales, if you have the time!

15 comments:

Laural Out Loud said...

That is hilarious!

As soon as I read Tom Seltzer, I couldn't for the life of me remember his real name. I had to google it! I wouldn't be surprised if I started saying Tom Seltzer from now on. My brain betrays me like that a lot.

Have a great weekend!

Lisa said...

Hibrow Hotdogs. So funny.

Magnesium PI. I love that too. Am officially adopting both phrases into my vocab. LOVE that.

Nauntie Lush said...

I am going to send this to my mom who is a HUGE Tom Seltzer fan. She will be HORRIFIED that someone got it wrong. Although I am sure that she will laugh and the Magnesium PI.

A Ricochet? That is too funny. And the whole hot dog thing was just the icing on the cake. I so need a family like this!

Anonymous said...

HAHAHA!!! I loved this post.

My family holds onto things that my siblings and I said as children and we all use that term instead of the actual word/phrase. It's so fun to remember those things...

And the best is when you are SURE that you know the words to a song.

Scrappy Girl said...

Love the story. I found you through the McMommy POW. My funny story...I just spent the day trying to convince some visiting "distant" relatives that there are 50 state NOT 52 states. AND that Washington DC is not a state! LOL!

Jenn @ Juggling Life said...

We never go "to the beach." We always go "tadabeach." Just the way the kids said it when they were 2 and 3.

Ann(ie) said...

HAAAAAAAA! I love it. Ben's newest phrase is me no dat. It's clear he's brilliant. hehe. ;) Happy 4th girlie. Hope you're off having a blast!!

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness! That was hilarious! Awesome POW post!

Hope you had a great 4th!

stephanie said...

Wow times infinity. That is one priceless conversation.

Probably the most enduring funny family tale I have is of my sister, who is nine years younger than me, thinking that I had used my pointer finger to flip someone off while I was driving. After I had done it, I told her not to do what I did (because I believed she saw me use my middle finger). Later, when she was upset at me, I noticed her waving a hand as I turned my back. When I made her show me what she had done, she said she was sorry and put up her pointer finger. I played along and told her to make sure she didn't do it anymore. She has never mentioned how long she actually thought that was how to flip someone off...

Pendullum said...

Too bloody funny, Lady!!!!
Highbrow National!

Angie McCullagh said...

She sounds like a hoot.

Kyla said...

OMG, that is SO funny.

Kelli @ writing the waves said...

Oh my gosh...sounds like you had my mother-in-law over! hahaha!

*Found you through POW! Thanks for the laugh!

Becky at lifeoutoffocus said...

lol omg @ highbrow!

Molo said...

hey sis,

I was very confused when I read one of your newer posts that mentioned Highbrow National but now it all makes sense. I really have to keep up on this better.