Monday, January 3, 2011

Word origins

ETYMOLOGY: Origin and development of a word.

My word, "PAD"

In the 1950's I used to toddle and pad around in my stockinged feet.

In the '60s some girls in my class had to pad their bras with tissue. We also had to carry a pad in our purses.

In the early '70s some of my friends had their own pad and invited others to crash.

In the mid '70s I took my kids to the Botanical Gardens and Tower Grove Park, and we would stare in awe at a giant lily pad.

In the late '70s I would pad my college essays to make page count and so I would sound informed.

In the '80s I would pad $10 into the household budget.

In the '90s I wore cute, too tight shoes and ended up at any given time wearing a corn, callus or bunion pad.

In the 2000's I looked closely in the mirror and noticed a pad of fat on my left and right cheeks; yeah, those cheeks too.

I am a writer, so I always have a pen and pad nearby.

Today, I padded downstairs in my stockinged feet to the laundry room to do some hand washables. I know I should have worn shoes. I know that there is a slighty raised piece of PVC pipe that sticks out of the floor drain about an inch.

I know that I swore loudly when I stubbed by toe, heard and felt it break. It's my left foot, the toe next to my big toe is so purple and swollen. I am padding around with it wrapped in a big foam pad.

My husband says he can pad the walls if I need him to. Sometimes, I wonder.

From our pad to yours, Happy New Year!

24 comments:

Pat Wahler said...

Ruh-roh! Is the broken toe story an illustration or...???

Pat
www.critteralley.blogspot.com

Lisa Ricard Claro said...

Love it! The post, that is, not your poor toe. Hope you feel better soon.

Linda O'Connell said...

Pat,
I should take a photo as an illustration. Ha ha

Linda O'Connell said...

Hi Lisa,
Thanks for stopping by. I'll be hobbling back to work Wednesday. Staff meeting tomorrow.

Susan said...

Oh, Linda. That was a cute post. It was well "padded" with descriptions of the word. I think ice on that toesie will help. So sorry you stubbed it. That's painful,too. Take care. Susan

Donna Volkenannt said...

Hi Linda,
Cute and clever. I love it. Hope your toe heals fast.
Donna

Linda O'Connell said...

Susan,
Thank you. You are so kind and caring.

Bookie said...

Glad you could see humor in the toe!I KNOW how that feels. I have broken so many toes, esp.the little ones so many times, that when my toes see a corner or chair coming they just fold in and break themselves!!!!

Linda O'Connell said...

Claudia,
You made me chuckle. It is painful, but this too shall pass.

Barb Hodges said...

Linda, I feel your pain. I broke 3 ribs this past summer. No amount of padding helped. Get well soon.

Linda O'Connell said...

Hi Barb,
Thank you for your concern. I too broke a rib, a few years ago, fell at school. That was very painful.

Sioux Roslawski said...

And a knick-knack PADDY whack...Hope your toe gets better soon.

Lynn said...

That was a cute post and I'm so sorry about your toe - ouch!

Cathy C. Hall said...

Just goes to show that even with a broken toe, you write through it. Or pad through it. (I know you'll come up with the right word! :-)

BECKY said...

OMG, I laughed out loud at most of your post, Linda...and many of the clever comments!! I'm sorry about your pain, though!

Linda O'Connell said...

Sioux, you playful one!

Lynn, I never intended for it to turn out this way, really. I was just going to go with the word PAD until I padded downstairs and you know the rest.

Cathy, You are my mentoe, oops that should be mentor.

Becky, thanks; not only were they funny, they were true.

Terri Tiffany said...

LOL I love your creative use of one word!! You know how to write a story:)

Linda O'Connell said...

Terri,
Thanks for stopping by. Happy New Year.

Beth M. Wood said...

Happy New Year Linda! Your poor toe! Okay, I have to admit that when I began reading your post, I immediately thought it was going to end with something about the iPad...the 2010 version of the word "PAD!"

Loved your post. Just posted my first of 2011...

Hope to get together soon!

Linda O'Connell said...

I Pad, I pod, I tunes, I don't get it! Thanks for the well wishes and congrats on your pub.

Chatty Crone said...

Cute pad post! sandie

Julia Gordon-Bramer said...

You're hysterical!

Linda O'Connell said...

Sandie, Thank you for stopping by.

Julia, one simple little word and two giant big toes on one foot!

Tammy said...

"Yeah, those cheeks too." OMG, you are hysterically funny even with crushed tootsies! Hope you heal soon!!!