1.
That came out of the blue was the old saying, the updated version to that would be,
that is so random.
2.
You look like something the cat dragged in out of the rain. This for me was always a reference to my hair. I always thought that meant there was hope if a cat was willing to rescue me.
Ragamuffin was another reference to an unacceptable appearance. What is a ragamuffin?
3. My father could have been a spokesmen for the Energy Commission. He was always turning out the lights and never let us stand in front of the refrigerator too long with the door open. He used to say,
you are wasting electricity. I do the same thing now.
4. My father used to say,
"go ask your mother", that was a thumbs up, she
never said no. However, if it was the opposite, "go ask your father", first he
would ask, "what did your mother say" and eventually you caught on. If she was
sending you to him, the answer was usually "no". There were a few exceptions.
5. When we were disrespectful or answered back, my father used to look you in the eye and say,
"I will knock your teeth down your throat". My father was not a boxer, nor did he ever raise anything but his voice to me, but that statement always made me stop in my tracks and wonder. How would he be able to do that? Would I choke? I always marveled when he said that and laughed on the inside, but knew better to let him know I thought it was funny because he would
wipe that smile right off your face. After all,
little children should be seen and not heard.
6. My mother used to say,
"the hair makes the face". I always had poker straight hair, so she was always trying to permanently change mine. Every time I got a perm, my father would walk in the house and say, "what is that stink"? I know he was aware it was my makeover. I also refuse to have my mustache waxed because "hair makes the face" and it is part of my face. I always have a permanent disguise.
7. Both our dining room and living room chairs were wooden and my father use to say,
"don't rare back on those chairs, you will ruin the legs". Rare back? I think he meant lean back, but I never questioned him. Did that mean the feet would get a permanent curve to it and change the chair into a rocking chair, I wondered?
8. Shoes were always an issue growing up, not that we had too many, but leaving them lying around. It infuriated my father if he tripped over someones shoes. He would threaten to
take all the shoes and throw them in the back yard. I got mine quick. I had those bowling shoes looking ones as part of my school uniform and there was only one pair. I wasn't going to fetch them the next morning in the yard all covered in dew.
9. Ever hear this one?
Your face is going to freeze like that. Or get caught crossing your eyes and being told
they are going to get stuck like that?
10. I had an aunt that said,
"as if" and we would always ask, as if what Aunt Sis? She would just reply, "as if". As if we were suppose to know.
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