Okay loyal readers and perusers of the electronically transmitted written word.  Friday fun and frolic is upon us.  Let’s dive in.

Recently the Entire Family moved into the development where I live.  Yes, I said Entire.  This is to differentiate them from the Partial Family or for that matter The Partridge Family.  At least one of them lives in a pear tree.  I wonder if that one is the outcast or if pear trees are considered vacation spots or one of the condos for the kids.  I guess it depends on when the deciduous goes to flower.

Let’s refocus on the Entire Family, shall we?  I’m chuckling.  As if I should await your response.  If I did, I’d have to post this missive in pieces at separate times.  We’re moving forward.

Can you be one member of the Entire Family?  I guess you could.  Does that make you a partial member of the Entire Family?

“Why are you fixated on this topic?  Are they in the dress, shoe of accessory business?”

Excellent query.  I don’t know the answer to your question.  The reason for calling them out is the offering of events for the whole Entire Family.  I’ve heard advertisements for these offerings; hoping a member of such family is within earshot of the voice.  Advertisements such as “Fun for the whole Entire Family”.  See what I mean? Shame to waste the offer when it is targeted thusly.

Yes, this portion of today’s program sounds absurd.  I’m raising it to bring conspicuous attention to the use of exaggerations.  There is also the dilemma of statements encompassing superlatives that I find, well, interesting.  Phrases such as: Everybody who Knows Goes to Melrose (that’s a diner in South Philadelphia).  Does that mean that everyone who doesn’t go doesn’t know? And what exactly is it that those who do not frequent do not know?

What about the phrase, “The Happiest Person in the World”?  Could it be that someone visited with every person in the world?  That would take a considerable amount of time, energy and money.  The timeline and the potential for problems include: i) finding the current happiest person and while continuing the research that person at the top of the list passes on or becomes unhappy, how would you reconcile that? ii) what happens when there are births?  And what is the determination criteria?  Is it objective or subjective?  What’s the scoring algorithm? Everyone (that’s an exaggeration – I’m not sure who knows and who doesn’t) knows babies are happy – except those who have not experienced babies.

Moving on.  Yeah I know thankfully so. What do you make of the phrase “not to mention” and then proceeding to mention?

What about beginning a statement with the words “I mean”? How are we supposed to interpret when there was silence before the opening words?

Another interesting phrase is “To be Perfectly Honest”.  Can you be “Imperfectly Honest”?  More confusing is the consideration were you not being honest prior to stating that you are now (but unsure how far into the ensuing conversation this carries) “Being Honest With Me”?

I also get hung up on the use of the word “actually” as in the opposite of “figuratively”.  “Maybe you should consider therapy.”  Maybe I should; not to mention relaxation therapy.  Especially, to be perfectly honest, if my goal is to become the happiest person in the world.

Enjoy the day.  I’m sure you’re happy to shed the yoke of this foolishness.  I hope it encouraged a smile, a chuckle, a roll of the eyes or thoughtful consideration of the nugget of knowledge you may harvest from this literary onslaught.  Smiling keeps people guessing – so does using ambiguous phrases.

Enjoy Friday as if it was whatever day of the week brings you happiness.  Maybe, in all actuality (as opposed to partial, impartial, nascent or any other type of actuality) Friday is your fun day.  Whatever lifts your spirits!

Love and hugs, Nikki Nicole DeCaro