DIDSBURY - As summer winds down to its inevitable conclusion and fall and winter approach it is often a time for reflection.
September means back to school, colder mornings and hockey season. It also means the end, or close to it, for camping, beaching and all the other summer fun activities.
Summer of 2018 was one of several swings from rainy weather to sunny to near drought to smoky. The smoke, of course, came from the many B.C. wildfires that raged on and still do. It was not good for those with lung conditions or heart conditions.
That leads me to this week's column, which is about those little things that annoy people. Smoke was certainly high on that list for me this summer. Thankfully it didn't last long.
There are also certain words and phrases that pop up that can really annoy someone. My former co-worker in Olds called them verbal tics. I'm sure I have my own but this is my list and a reminder this is all for fun, I'm just saying.
OK, that's the first one: Just saying. Yes, I know. You're just saying some words. Words make sentences and so on. What does it mean? I guess it's meant to soften the blow of what you're saying kind of like, no offence.
Another phrase that bothers me is "fur babies." Oh, I'm taking my fur babies to the lake or I can't wait to see my fur babies. I don't know why. It just grates on me. Don't get me wrong I love animals. I don't have pets myself but I enjoy other people's cats and dogs when I visit or they drop by. But, I'm sorry, they're not babies. They're not people. They may be part of the family, I get that, but really people.
I grant you this is my opinion; I'm sure you all have your own. Fair enough. Yes, that's right. That's the next one: fair enough. Again, I don't quite understand what exactly it means. It's the standard way of saying something that says nothing. Better than saying uhh I guess.
Language evolves over time. What's popular now may not be so hip in a year. Right? I know right. That's another overplayed phrase -- right? There's nothing wrong with it but I feel at this point it's a little played out. I mean I know you have to say something when you talk to people. But I think we as a people need to come up with something a bit more creative. It's not easy, I know.
English is a funny language isn't it? I once tutored college English. It was fun and challenging. I have to admit I don't know all the rules I just know what (I think) sounds right. Of course, even if you know all the rules for English there are so many exceptions that it makes the rules almost null and void. Almost.
