Thursday brings thoughts that are errant.  You’re probably thinking, “As opposed to all the other days of errant thoughts?”

Today I saw a car stop.  That may not seem like much of anything to report.  The cessation of movement alleged by that four-letter word isn’t as obvious as it seems.  There is the “Rolling Stop”, the “Partial Stop”, the “Split Second Stop”, the “Soft Tap on Pedal”, the “There’s Nobody Coming Stop” and my favorite the “Stoptional Stop”. This portion of our program was brought to you by our sponsor, the distracted driver.

Foolishness continues as I memorialize a recent conversation around the word “quiet”.  That simple five-letter word once meant the absence of noise, or “silence”.   There are mutants and variants such as “talk quietly”, “sing quietly” and all other quiet sounds that a person or object can generate. Sound (pun intended) surreal?

Such utterances are called “spin”.  People spin things to their advantage.  Even blatant acts or actions are denied or blamed on others.  When did we become a Teflon society?  When did responsibility become passé, “not my job” and “easy to pawn off”?  Lest I neglect my responsibility, this portion of our program is being brought to you, commercial free, by our sponsor, the personal injury lawyer.

Yet another word that is simple in form and facile in meaning is the word “Sorry”. As in “I’m Sorry”.  Does Brenda Lee’s voice sound in your head?  A simple and easy to understand phrase has been expanded to now read “I’m Sorry But”.  Did I spell that wrong?  Should it be “I’m Sorry Butt?”  I don’t want to inject my gluteus maximus but there are times when opinion counts for something.  I think the world would be a better place (there are many more of these thoughts; I’ll spare you so you won’t be bowled over or become pinned down) if we allow responsibility to settle.  “I’m Sorry”, followed by continuing abstinence from whatever word or deed triggered the need for apology, would enable us to move on.  Dwelling should be a welcoming abode.  Not something we allow to anchor us to a debilitating event.

I’ll leave you with those thoughts.  Be yourself without conditions.

Love and hugs, Nikki Nicole DeCaro