Editor’s note: This is another column in Bill Boyd’s new series, “The Way It Was,” about growing up in Marysville. Bill continues to work with the Union County Historical Society to obtain information for his stories.
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Some time ago, I wrote something about a pet peeve of mine, the overuse of the word “awesome.” Today, two or three years later, I’d like to say a few more words about it, because it is still one of my pet peeves.
Fifty years ago, “awesome” was one of my favorite words. It wasn’t used often, but it was perfect to describe something very special and something that was so powerful it would instill a feeling of awe, almost reverence, in the beholder.
Let’s say there was a solar eclipse in the middle of the day, and it became pitch dark around noon. I would say that would be an awesome experience. Or I might use it to describe some biblical things, like the big flood when Noah was loading all those animals on his ark. That would have been an awesome sight.
I think I first noticed the overuse of that word by kids, mostly teenagers. They sometimes used it in place of common words like “nice,” “pretty” or “attractive.”
Each time it is used in that way, it weakens the word’s original meaning. So today, if I want to describe Noah’s activities during the big flood, I can no longer describe it as “awesome.” I have to find another word, maybe something like “breathtaking.” But that just doesn’t seem to have the impact that “awesome” once had.
But today, it’s not just kids who overuse the word. I hear a lot of adults do it also. For example, some time ago I overheard two ladies talking. One was telling the other about her daughter’s wedding dress. She was going to be married in a couple weeks, and the lady kept talking about her daughter’s “awesome dress.” Then the other lady started talking about how “awesome” that young woman will look in that dress.
I’m sure it was a very nice dress, and I’m equally sure that young woman looked nice in it. But awesome? I don’t think so. If that young lady truly did look awesome in the dress on her wedding day, I think the bridegroom was a very lucky guy.
My favorite overuse of that word occurred a few years ago when my wife and I were standing in line at a Piada Restaurant. There was a group of teenagers in front of us. They were talking about the kinds of things that teenagers often talk about, like movies, music and the latest fashion clothes.
One young lady had just bought a new pair of flip-flops the day before. She was telling all her friends how “awesome” those flip-flops were. Awesome flip-flops? Those must be the fanciest shoes ever made. I’d sure like to see them. Maybe I could buy a pair for my granddaughter.
I could give you a lot of other examples, but I don’t think that’s necessary. You probably understand how I feel about this whole subject. Besides, I have to end this right now. We are going to our daughter’s house for dinner. Her husband is cooking Swedish meatballs for us, and I don’t want to be late. His Swedish meatballs are really awesome.
Those wishing to contact Bill Boyd can e-mail him at williamboyd514@gmail.com