Pat Bean's blog

Aging My Way

I moderate a small Story Circle Network writing forum, and often provide a writing prompt for the group, suggesting they write about it for 20 minutes.

A recent prompt was “Four-letter Words.’ I added that mine started with an S.

The prompt brought about the following email conversation, which made me smile. Maybe you will too.

Lucy:  I did write the prompt about 4 letter words, and I use the S one too.  Sometimes it best describes what I need it to.

Me: Just now answering email Lucy. I feel closer to you knowing you use the S-word too. For me it’s all about frustration. I started using it in the early days of computers – when the Mergenthal computer I used at work would eat my copy.

Vicky: The s* word rules. It’s so fluid and close to “O crap” enough that it serves when nothing else does! Shit, shet, shit!

Nancilynn: I’ll never forget hearing old Sister Pat, the Board Chair walk past my desk with a sheaf of papers as she uttered “Oh Shit” and not under her breath. It goes to show how a well- used phrase can imprint a memory on you!

Me: Someone once told me that you can say shit and still remain a lady if you pronounce it with a Texas accent and use three syllables. That was shortly after I moved to Utah from Texas. I still sometimes pronounce it sh-ie-et! Loving this conversation

Lucy: My mother never cursed or allowed us to.  One morning I was upstairs getting ready for school when I heard her downstairs let out a very loud SHIT!!  She immediately rushed up the stairs to tell me she was sorry and then showed me her burned hand.  We both laughed and the S word was from then on allowed, except when Grandma came over.

Nancilynn: Well, that just goes to show you.

So, what’s your favorite four-letter word?

Pat Bean is a retired award-winning journalist who lives in Tucson with her canine companion, Scamp. She is an avid reader, the author of Travels with Maggie available on Amazon (Free on Kindle Unlimited), is always searching for life’s silver lining, and these days aging her way – and that’s usually not gracefully.