Turning 50 Got Nuthin’ on Grateful
I am in shock. At least I think it’s shock. And not schock.
I am discombobulated. My god, that is a word. That one I looked up and wasn’t thrown into turmoil when I eyeballed it. Thank you Jesus.
If there’s one thing I’m good at, and it’s probably the only thing I’m good at, it’s spelling. As far back as I can reckon, my spelling neurons have been on full alert. I daresay people have traveled great distances to hear me spell. Just the other day, the seventeen year old walked at least four steps out of his bedroom and asked me how to spell demerit.
Correct letter order is to my life as, say, being right is to Rumsfeld or being the boss of Bush is to Cheney. The difference is, when in doubt, I look it up to be sure sure sure.
A dictionary in every room. A dictionary.com in every computer’s bookmarks.
Heretofore, spellcheck was an imposed annoyance in my life. Me? Rely on spellcheck? Psh. One, I know how to spell most words I write. Two, when I’m unsure or don’t know (hear that, Rum & Chen?), I look it up in a real dictionary. Yea. Merriam-Webster. Oxford English. That’s what I’m talkin’ about.
I know. Good god, woman. Land the damn plane!
An email to a friend. On a whim I used my email program’s spellchecker. Humph. Damn spellcheckers can’t even spell greatful correctly. No wonder I never rely on them. I smugly grabbed my hardcover Merriam-Webster just to delight in yet another expose`of spellchecker ineptitude.
Grateful. There it was. I’d like to say that I didn’t check another hardcover. I’d like to say that I don’t have three hardcovers in my house. I checked them all.
40+ years of greatful. I say 40+ since I’m quite certain that Sister Bernadine made it a penmanship practice word.
I’m gaming for another 40+ years of remedial grateful.
April 25th, 2006 at 7:45 pm
Sandy,
Hope turning 5-0 was fun. I am right behind you! Gary and I are celebrating our 15th anniversay in May and decided on a trip to the Wine Country. I’ll drink one for you! We are really excited about it and plan to meet Lisa and Terry for dinner. Take care!
Mary
April 25th, 2006 at 7:48 pm
Should be divine! Make mine a Cabernet, please!
April 27th, 2006 at 9:04 am
This should be a happy time. You’re 50 — so what? You’re healthy, happy and have a loving family. And you still lool loverly, my dear! ;)
*Hugs*
Ry
April 28th, 2006 at 2:53 pm
You are so right, Ry. And I am feeling mahhhvelous.
October 25th, 2006 at 8:56 am
Turning 50 you bet it’s a shock to the system.
I am so nostaligic about those days back in the early 60’s when we ran around my neighborhood, Fort Trumbull Beach in Milford, Ct. free as birds, no moms hovering over us, though the moms were at home in the days of coffee klatches.
Aren’t you my peers glad to have been alive then?
I wish we could go back, no matter how much like “Pleasantville” it was.
October 25th, 2006 at 5:17 pm
Me, too ….
March 16th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Sandy,
Same problem. Good speller. 50 yo plus and Microsoft kept marking my greatful with the red underline but when I right click Microsoft will not give me a suitable suggestion so I finally looked it up and here I am 54 years old and just learning how to smell greatful. Kid these days just don’t know the meaning. After 50 you are grateful for every new breath. You are grateful for each new day. In fact now that I pause and look at my world I am in a state of awe and wonder.
Anyway, did a mamma.com search looking for the spelling and found your blog post.
Pete Casanova