Now this is a funny word!

Main Entry: hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: fear of long words

Main Entry: irony
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning. (See hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia)

When shall I marry?

This year, next year, sometime, never.

What will my husband be?

Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor, rich-man, poor-man, beggar-man, thief.

What will I be?

Lady, baby, gypsy, queen.

What shall I wear?

Silk, satin, cotton, rags, velvet or lace)

How shall I get it?

Given, borrowed, bought, stolen.

How shall I get to church?

Coach, carriage, wheelbarrow, cart.

Where shall I live?

Big house, little house, pig-sty, barn.

A. A. Milne’s (yes, the English author, best known for his books about the teddy bear Winnie-the-Pooh) Now We are Six (1927) had the following version of “Cherry stones”:

Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor, rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief,

Or what about a cowboy, policeman, jailer, engine driver, or a pirate chief?

Or what about a ploughman or a keeper at the zoo,

Or what about a circus man who lets the people through?

Or the man who takes the pennies on the roundabouts and swings,

Or the man who plays the organ or the other man who sings?

Or What about the rabbit man with rabbits in his pockets

And what about a rocket man who’s always making rockets?

Oh it’s such a lot of things there are and such a lot to be

That there’s always lots of cherries on my little cherry tree.

SUFFERED A GREAT LOSS

While the focus today, tomorrow and for the next God-knows-how-many-days will be the death of a pop culture icon; while many will mourn, wail and quite literally make fools of themselves over it and while as many will speak endlessly about it, allow me, if only for a moment, to remind us all that others have died this month; others whose lives were cut short; others who leave behind loved ones and whose families will dearly miss them; families who’ll suffer with much more dignity and honor than we’ll be exposed to on the tube in the coming days.

Yes… it’s true… we’ve suffered a great loss… but forgive me while I tell you that I’m not talking about the king of pop music.

These American military members died in Iraq this month:

• Sergeant Justin J. Duffy
• Specialist Christopher M. Kurth
• Specialist Charles D. Parrish
• Lance Corporal Robert D. Ulmer
• Staff Sergeant Edmond L. Lo
• Sergeant Joshua W. Soto
• Captain Kafele H. Sims
• Specialist Chancellor A. Keesling

And these members of our U.S. Armed Forces died in Afghanistan this month:

• Sergeant Jones, Ricky D.
• Specialist Munguia Rivas, Rodrigo A.
• Command Master Chief Petty Officer Garber, Jeffrey J.
• 1st Sergeant Blair, John D.
• Sergeant Smith, Paul G.
• Staff Sergeant Melton, Joshua
• Sergeant 1st Class Dupont, Kevin A.
• Specialist O’Neill, Jonathan C.
• Chief Warrant Officer Richardson Jr., Ricky L.
• Specialist Silva, Eduardo S.
• Lance Corporal Whittle, Joshua R.
• Major Barnes, Rocco M.
• Major Jenrette, Kevin M.
• Staff Sergeant Beale, John C.
• Specialist Jordan, Jeffrey W.
• Specialist Griemel, Jarrett P.
• Specialist Hernandez I, Roberto A.
• Sergeant Obakrairur, Jasper K.
• Staff Sergeant Hall, Jeffrey A.
• Private 1st Class Ogden, Matthew D.
• Private 1st Class Wilson, Matthew W.

Let’s remember and honor this day those whose deaths are truly impacting.

God rest them and God comfort their loved ones they’ve left behind.

And may God use their deaths to remind us all of the shortness of our days.

WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE,

ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE

Freedom isn’t free, but the US Marine Corps is willing to pay most of your share.

solitude, she knows it all too well