Collecting Words

I love Meanderings and Muses.

I love our guest bloggers and I love our commenters, and I  love you guys who come visit and never say a word -

And I love that each and every post gives me something - a little gift of something - be it a bit of new knowledge, a story that makes me laugh, or one that makes me cry.  Or one that causes me to think.  And I hope it does a little of that for many of you as well.

The last post was from Hank Phillippi Ryan about Paul Simon and it has resonated with many of us.  She said, "“Hello, darkness, my old friend?” Yikes.  Paul Simon got me. And didn’t let go.  And the idea of lyrics as literature, lyrics as poetry, lyrics as just as gorgeous and complicated and compelling as any good novel—began to evolve in my head."  (does this give us a hint as to why Hank is an Agatha, Anthony AND Macavity winner?).

Her piece collected lots of comments and it touched those of us who are lovers of words - which would be most of us who hang out here. 

And, as coincidences tend to happen, it came on the heels of something Janet Rudolph mentioned in a comment  a couple weeks ago.  I wrote a piece here about Collecting Books . . .  and other stuff.  I included some pictures of some of my books.  Janet, being a collector, noticed not necessarily the books, but the mottoware on the shelves along with the books.  Seems she has several boxes of it herself.  In her garage (I could cry.  Suffice to say, I covet those 20 boxes, sight unseen).  Janet collects " . . . embroideries, americana, and signs - anything you can read."

Whoa.

"anything you can read."

Is THAT what draws me to the mottoware?!  WHY wasn't I able to figure that out on my own?!  Thank you, Janet, for helping this feeble minded one figure out that one of the things she collects is "words."

If we love beautifully written song lyrics and amass large collections of CDs, we're collecting words.

If we're collectors of books, we're collecting words.

How many times have we heard ourselves say "I love words."  Or, "I love that word."   Often, I'm betting.  And while we're reading, how many of us will smile and sigh at the manner in which a particular phrase has been written.  It might set our emotions rolling towards fear or anger or it might tinkle gentle bells of happiness in our hearts.

Words.

Here's to 'em.

Now whenever I catch a glimpse of my mottoware, they'll have a whole new depth of meaning to me, thanks to the wiseness of our Janet.  I, of course, read the phrases on each one as I buy or receive it as a gift.  But then - I'm afraid, I guess I tend to take them for granted.  So after Janet's comment I spent a little time picking up individual pieces and paying more attention to what they're saying to me.  Here's one of my favorites - 

Believe it or not, reading this little dish is what forced me to quit talking about joining an exercise class and actually getting off my lazy bum and doing it.  

Sometimes the words will remind you that it's the deeds that really might be important.  Words weren't helping me lose any weight - that's for sure.

And, like this piece tells me - "Lost Time is Never Found."  So get on with it, already!

Words.

They're pretty amazing.

I love words that say exactly what they are - know what I mean?

Like "shimmer."

You read or say the word shimmer and you just see and feel and know what it is.  

So, how 'bout you, wordsmiths, tell us some words you love - or hate. 

Sparkle.  I like sparkle.

dazzle, quirky, saffron . . .