When he had gas, he “opened up the snuff box and played on the fiddle.”
When there’s an abundance, it’s “coming out of the ying-ding.”
When someone hesitates too long at a green light, “it’s the only color green we got.”
When something is disappointing, it’s “better than a sharp stick in the eye.”
Whenever someone or something’s fabulous, it’s “somethin’ else,” said wistfully, with a click in the side of his mouth.
Whenever I’d say, “Not to brag,” preceding a brag, he’d say, “oh, just go ahead and brag.”
When accommodations weren’t up to expectations, they’re “pretty primitive.” And when accommodations were deluxe, he’d say it as sarcasm.
When something was nicer than expected, it was “not too shabby.”
When a room was too cool, it was “a little bit airish.”
When someone was too saccharine sweet, it “makes my fanny want to dip snuff.”
Whenever I asked to drive as a teenager, he’d say no because “you don’t have enough experience.” That was the standard answer whenever any of us wanted to do something he didn’t want us to do.
When something was unclear it was “clear as mud.”
When watching White Christmas, he always said Vera Ellen was “a good dancer, but she’s too skinny.” This eventually turned into “too skinny” whenever someone was good at something but not quite perfect.
When he was delayed in figuring something out, he was “too soon old, too late schmart.”
When getting sidetracked from a point or when wanting to add to a point, he’d go back to it by saying, “in any event.”
When something wasn’t going as planned or he wasn’t enjoying it, he’d say, “are we having any fun yet?”
Whenever he did something well, Grammy would say, “you’re hired!” Daddy would say, “I don’t want the job!”
When someone was lively or playful, they were a “sassy piece of baggage.”
If he didn’t agree with what was being said, he’d introduce his opinion with “be that as it may…”
When taking a roundabout way somewhere or when finally getting there after being lost, we were “spiraling in on it.”
When telling a story and not being sure of all the details, he was “probably telling you more than I know.”
Whenever a course of action was uncertain, like passing a car on a 2 lane road while pulling our boat, having no depth perception due to only having vision in one eye, he’d say “I hope this turns out all right.”
Whenever he didn’t like a movie or whatever else was going on, he’d say, “I think I’ve enjoyed all of this I can stand.”
When accepting someone else’s choice, he’d say, “Oh, very well.”
Pop’s term of endearment for Daddy was “Rawsum Chaw,” which became the same for my brother, Jack. A “rawsum chaw” was a chew taken from the rawsum bag that baseball pitchers used to dry their hands on the mound. This was a common thing to chew around 1884 and evidently was before Juicy Fruit!
Thanks to Jack, Chuck, and Grammy for helping to compile this list. Never heard about Daddys fanny wanting to dip snuff. Reckon I was never all that sweet.
