RUNNEMEDE REMEMBERED

Growing up in a small town in Southern New Jersey


Saturday, November 8, 2008

More silly names

I wrote several days, or was it weeks, ago that my father had pet names for his children and grandchildren, not necessarily names that we liked. They were more to tease us.

Well, my niece Jennie remembered another one that he would call people, not necessarily family members, and usually not family members. So, I guess we can add this to either family sayings, or just idiosyncrasies of my father.

He would call people a potted palm. Now, Jennie, don't take this the wrong way. If he ever called you that, I'm sorry. Because a potted palm was a dimwit, a dummy, a numb skull, and politician with all of those adjectives in front of his name. So, no one ever wanted to be called a potted palm.

I don't know where that came from, probably some old movie, like Arsenic and Old Lace, but I really can't say where. If anyone out there knows the origin of that saying, let me know.

mtf

1 comment:

Rose said...

:-D Hahahahaha!!! Yep, without fail, I was acting goofy or being loud while he was trying to study or watch something when he'd call me that. However, the name made me giggle so much that it's okay. It's certainly a more creative way of expressing disdain than most use.
Now I remember he'd sometimes call news commentators that, too. He was such a character. I miss him very much.
ttfn