Normal People = Weird phrases

Now that I'm back from the dirty south...

For as long as I have worked in an industry that serves young people, I have been continuously amazed by the things that come from the mouths of children...I have long given up the notion that I am smarter than children...the insight they provide makes me better at my job...I am essentially learning from them. A combination that can be intriguing is a smart kid combined with "country" roots...these kids have picked up the sayings of old fogeys, and gladly repeat them...because, as you all know, kids just want to grow up. I will explore several phrases that I have heard children utter...I have also graciously given my translation...Unfortunately, I am to concrete and literal when I hear someone.

A camper once lost his wallet...he said "it's like looking for a needle in a haystack" - I said "who sews in a barn, anyway?"

An employee once said "There's more than one way to skin a cat!" - I said "who does this, and why do you need more than one way?"

Also - an LIT said "Who let the cat out of the bag?" - I said "who put a cat in a bag...that is mean!"

Poor Cats!!! - I once asked a camper if a "cat had her tongue"... and if a cat really had her tongue, then we really had a problem.


I even heard a camper say, during a scavenger hunt, "he pulled the wool over my eyes" - I thought "who brings WOOL to SUMMER CAMP?"

I once heard a kitchen staff employee say "Her eyes are bigger than her stomach!" - I thought "Great, now we have aliens..."

At an opening ceremony here at camp I hear the word "do-hickey"...I immediately blurted out "This is a DON'T-HICKEY ZONE!"

The first camp dance I was ever a part of, I heard "he's a party pooper!" - I thought "keep him away from the bean dip!"

The next time you hear a strange saying or phrase - break it down and take it literally. Appreciate children for their careless wit and knowledge. But just be careful of what you say around them!

I had writer's block this morning, which proves, contrary to Lee's belief, that I am indeed human. I appreciate you assisting me in my self-indulging ramblings on this morning, the 24th of February.

This weeks topics will include "Dock of the Bay", "Tree Cutting", and "My worst ideas ever".