Pop
Let me explain my absence. "Advanced" Creative Writing Class has been wonderful but also time consuming. I'm learning a lot, writing a lot and writing some more. Personal essays seem to be my thing and for some reason when I sit down to write an assignment it comes out serious, go figure. I thought I was a goof-ball writer but found I have a serious side of writing that is screaming to get out. I can't stop the words, they just keep coming. But I told my sister-in-law I'd make her laugh today. The last time I posted something on http://www.skirt.com/, I made her cry, so I owe her a laugh.
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Boy #1 moved to Florida this past weekend. Actually that's how I made Debbie cry, writing about this. But that's the direction we're going, south. Along with all the unwanted advice we gave Boy #1 and Daughter-in-law #1 before the big move, I also added,
"Now Boy #1, don't you come home to visit and call Pepsi a soda. You are a born and bred Northeast Ohioan, we say pop."
"I would never say soda."
"Damn right."
"I promise."
"No other part of the country calls it pop but us, nobody in the world does but us and we're damn proud of it, ya here?"
"Yes ma'am. Pop. Pop, pop, pop."
"That's mommy's boy. Now this is what I want you to do. You get yourself settled in Florida and then you convert the entire state into saying pop."
"I can do that. I'll keep a list."
"Yes, very good, a list. That's the way to think."
"They'll never know what hit them."
"And if it works......"
"It will work."
"We can send the other two off to different states."
"Diabolical."
"Downright diabolical."
5 comments:
I'd like a soft drink, please.
No, wait. I want a "Coke".
Pop?
It will never happen.
Soda, soda, soda.
:)
Ha! Soft drinks is exactly what popped into my head (no pun intended) when I read the title of your post. I didn't realize Americans (or some) called soda "pop", too! I'm a Canadian (um, but you probably already knew that) and we've always called it "pop".
A cute piece, by the way! Your writing has improved very nicely! (Not that I am one to talk.)
;-)
I don't want to break this to you too suddenly, but we in Michigan started calling it pop and Ohio just caught on later. Ontario has always marched in lock step with Michigan and I suppose Ontario spread it to the other more remote regions of the Great White North. I can't believe Indiana wouldn't call it pop too. I'm sure they do. But they have other failings to make up for it. Ohio, on the other hand, ain't all that bad anymore. Since Woody Hayes died, I mean.
I left the cradle of civilization (Michigan, remember?) a couple of centuries ago and have long since been converted to soda. Burp. It was a losing battle.
P.S. I'm sorry I said that about Woody.
I am very glad you are taking this writing class to heart and I wish you well. I admit to having fears they will teach the personality out of you, though. I hope not. I rather prefer you the way you are. (I was going to say "as a female Huck Finn" but that would probably seem insulting you you, and I don't mean to insult you.)
"No other part of the country calls it pop but us, nobody in the world does but us and we're damn proud of it, ya here?"
I called ALL fizzy drinks 'pop' all the way through my childhood, as do most north-east of England folks.
'... nobody in the world ..." indeed!
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