It has been a fine, fun, interesting journey.
I expected it to take 3 months to collect those special words for my book, but it hasn't taken that long.
As I start today to concentrate on writing, behind the scenes, instead of actively blogging, I want to thank all of you who have contributed so much to this project over the past weeks. You have all been wonderful!
I would like to take some time to run some of my early posts, which appeared before I got to know any of you. It seems strange, because many of you have become like old friends since then! I will also be running some "profile" posts from time to time, of some of the interesting people I have been so lucky to meet over the past couple of months. I hope you will still drop by from time to time.
From each of these posts I have dutifully extracted the words and phrases that seemed "foreign" to me as an American. To these I have added the lists of words that you gave me on purpose.
Now all that remains is to put all this into book form, to describe the fun I've had, and to present, as best I can, the wonderful English words used around the world that Americans are so oblivious of.
That, I suppose is MY problem, now.
But but but but.... does that mean we can't have fun any more? And there was so much more to tell you, as well!
ReplyDeleteDear Catherine. And you HAVE become dear to me—it seems forever since I first saw your face looking back at me from your very first comment.
ReplyDeleteI know you have much more to tell me. Had hoped you would, too. For example, one of my failings was my inability to get Irish words. So that will not be represented in the book at all. But books, can take on a life of their own if you are not careful to keep them in line. Most books would love to be researched forever and rewritten forever, too. No money in that, though, as you well know.
I have come to that point. I have more words now than I can ever adequately explain in any book; I cannot justify the continued collection, simply because it is incredibly fun to do.
This will not be my last book. Writing, photography, filmmaking—EXPLAINING—these things are my life. I live to describe things to others. With every research project, I gain a handful of new friends, have a lot of fun, endure a little pain. I am glad to count you among that handful of new friends with this current project, and I hope you will continue to keep in contact. I will provide you the means to do that privately.
Catherine, we both love information, you and me. Words. But you are a teacher and I am an interpreter—a subtle difference which drives me to constantly share and explain my digested and restated findings with the world. I love to collect. I have been a collector all my life. But underneath it all is the constant drive to SHARE those collections, not simply organize them. I think you, probably more than anyone else, understand this drive, this NEED that I have.
Only the collecting phase has come to an end. Nothing is dying. Something is about to be born.
I will hound you mercilessly if you don't stay in touch with me.
Ohhh....
ReplyDeleteTurn my back for one minute, and what happens?
Oh, Ann. Stop pretending you didn't know I was writing a book, when you have been—and are—such a large part of it. And if you don't yet know how to stay in touch with me, well, I guess I have been getting "ghost" emails from you for a long time! :)
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of which, I see you are "halfway there." Does that mean you are now in the middle of the English Channel? Stuck in the Chunnel? Or have you simply come back for another load? Heh.
Don't worry, I am brushing up on my French. Or at least my translator is. :) I'll bet you are ever so excited right now. Or as excited as you ever get.
Drop me a line when you get settled in for the day. (Naturallement.) You still have many writing chores ahead of you this summer. :)
This post was published way in the future! Are you the Terminator, or did I Oversleep?
ReplyDeletemax, you rule! you MUST stick around and do the silly with us while you finish the book. there are so many things yet to be said, the are so many things yet to be done. i feel like it's an end of the era for me, since i'm going back home and all that, but i wish you'd never change. i know all people do, it's only natural, yet some should preserve the way they are.
ReplyDeleteyour marmelade will always long for you! (see, i changed the picture. now i'm the renaissance girl.)
Well I must say this makes me a little sad... but I am very pleased that you got such a good list of words already.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of you last night, as my bf said "why must you use all these words I don't know" he was joking of course, like you he loves to hear the "new" words.
Good luck with the book!
OHMIGOD! It's September 8th already? That means my 50th birthday is tomorrow and I am SO not ready for that yet! I mean, I know I'm turning 50 this year and all what with the countdown timer on my blog and all but I thought I still had all summer to get used to the idea. Oh dear, where did the time go?
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of time, I'm sorry I haven't had the chance to come around much lately. Time just seems to get away from me and one day blends into the next and before I know it, time has come and gone. I know that's a horribly sorry excuse but it's the best one I've got.
Best of luck with your book - I'm sure it will be smashing or the dog's bollocks or some such British slang!
Ok. You can stop it now. Like you care. I can so see right through you all.
ReplyDeleteLycobus, sweetie, the date is a mere trifle. I put a wrong date on the blog's last real post to keep it on top. You know that.
Marmelade-I don't really know what to say to you. I thought I would. I wish you well. I like the new avatar-R-Girl. Fits. Miss my little orange one, though. In so many ways. Life is really shit sometimes. Be well.
Caroline-I know you hate being called Sweet Caroline. But you just are.
Linda-Thanks for the words. You will always be young to me. But hey, nobody is dying here folks. If you leave a comment, I will still answer. I am going to write, but I think I will still drop cards and make comments for a while. Just not as intensely, you know?
PS-the date on the last post, September 8, is not accident. It is my scheduled publishing date if I want it to appear in Amazon and Barnes & Noble and trade lists by Christmas. I need to get my ass in gear.
I knew you were going to write a book, true. I didn't know you were going to stop the blog, or at least put it into mothballs. And when I wasn't looking too.
ReplyDeleteHalfway was Le Mans. You can take that off your list of places to visit I think, unless you happen to be a motor racing enthusiast.
Yes of course I know how to get in touch, but I don't like to interrupt an author at work :)
right cocker, you get on with the book and keep us in the know.. a nod is as good as a wink you know :-)
ReplyDeleteSage
Limp biscuit!
ReplyDeleteI hate you.
Actually, good luck.
:)
I'll edit the South African spelling. You had some dodgy spelling of the words in that post your did btw.
Best of luck good sir - it was fun.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, if this really is the last post, could I trouble you to make the picture of the girl a little larger. With my advanced age its hard to make out ... oh forget it -- my aim is getting worse. Cheers!
I want to say something witty - but the only thing that comes to mind right now is this:
ReplyDeleteLaunch a dream, watch it rise
let it take you to the skies
keep believing, travelling on
heading for a bright new dawn.
Bon voyage Maximilian... you know that I'll be seeing you :)
No problem and best of luck with the book venture. I'd write a book as well. But I'm fucking lazy.
ReplyDeleteWell, I guess with the date of September 8th up there then you will find it easy to remember when my birthday is, right?
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the writing and we do care - truly!
I feel mean for not contributing more now :( But good luck with the work!
ReplyDeleteI know you'll pop in occasionally, to let us know how it's going.