mmmmdcxcviii

The Cunning Lingoes of Youth

I have such important things
going on that I want to tell you,
but I can’t stop thinking about
the idea of being made fun of
for doing something rude and
being obviously unaware of it.
Of what I was doing that was
rude. This is a hypothetical,
actually, that is based on a

voluminous list of redundant

and grim incidents. I realize it 

could happen anywhere at any

time and I’d be none the wiser.

Perhaps this is normal, happens

to all of us, but I worry about

performing acts of unintentional

rudeness or being caught totally 

unaware that what just came out 

of my mouth or off of my page is

derogatory or embarrassingly 

inaccurate.  Or getting caught 

using outdated language. Or reacting 

inappropriately just because I have

completely misunderstood some new

lippity smack. When I know this has

just occurred, I will accept my mistake, 

promptly apologize for doing whatever 

it was that I did.  Is everyone just 

making fun of me because I’m older?

And all this time I’d been waiting
my turn so that I could go around
preaching at all the younger folks
about how things were in my day

and how never to sass, etc.  When 

I’d have the upper hand in such 

matters. But of course there’s
always been generation gap lingo.
Elders would tut-tut or act mortally
offended when whippersnappers
sling out their newfangled catch-
phrases. The upstarts never seem
bothered by this.  These days
the new lingo of the lithest of our

populous seem complex, twisting

traditional definitions of words or
phrases in ways meant specifically 

to insult anyone over a certain age. 

Was it always this way? Where the
intent lies so specifically in confusing, 

confounding and generally screwing 

with all of the rest of us? Perhaps.

But I’ve not been here before. And 

am left to wonder if I’ll ever have 

the advantage I spent a lifetime 

awaiting. And I am all but certain

that the answer is that I will not.