We’ve added another entry to our family lexicon. In Dicken’s Bleakhouse there is a contemptible character, Smallweed, who is the biggest bully in a wheelchair. It’s more like a litter than a wheelchair. He orders everyone, frightens, threatens, skulks, well, you get the idea. Whenever he is carried into the room, he growls to his mincing granddaughter, “Oh my bones. Shake me up, Judy.” She comes behind him thrusts her arms under his armpits and shakes him in his chair.
It is pure Dickensian weirdness. Before my husband left for work this morning we played with this strange phrase. It succeeded in bringing smiles to our faces. I think the words are so rich, so delightful, so fun.
We have several phrases that are private codewords, funny reminders of stories told long ago. “Not today, boys” comes from my brother Jim’s experience as a medical student. An old lady in a hospital bed surrounded by students was told that she would have certain tests done on her. Her tart reply is classic, “Not today, boys. I know you have to make lots of money for the hospital but not today.” This is such a useful reply to inquiries by wondering husbands, “Did you think you might clean the fridge out hon?”
“Lovely, Betty” has to be heard with a broad Scottish accent. It sounds more like Loove-lee, beh-eee. My brother David and his family were in Scotland enjoying the hospitality of a ladies tea. Every time something was brought out one of the white-haired women pronounced the benediction: Lovely, Betty. I think the ninth repetition of it put my nieces into a fit of giggles. It has become a very common method of expressing appreciation in our house, where no one is called by any form of Elizabeth.
How do you talk in your family? What are your funny, understood-only-by-yourselves phrases?
A Living Pencil 