Monday, June 01, 2009

Quotes

I love reading quotes, but I can never find the perfect one that says exactly what I want it to say. I was looking for a really good quote for Frankie's graduation invitation. I came up with two, and I didn't use either of them. I don't remember them word for word, and I don't feel like looking them up right now, but one of them said something like "The reason it is called Commencement is because it isn't the end of anything, it's the beginning." and the other one was something like, "Graduation is where thousands of people dress in identical hats and gowns and listen to a speech about how individuality is the key to success."

I didn't use the first quote because the kids all think they are celebrating the end of high school, and it doesn't seem to work with their perspective to tell them just how wrong they are. And the other one seemed too mean-spirited or something, I thought maybe the grandparents wouldn't really appreciate the humor or truth in it. I decided it was just easier to leave the quote off completely.

I screw up quotes and expressions a lot of times. Like today. Have you ever heard of doing something in "fits and starts" when you mean you are doing something in little bursts, you just get started, and then it fizzles to a stop? No? Gram must have been the person who used to say that to me. I was trying to tell my friend in work that the project I was working on was going in fits and starts -- just as I got started, it came to a halt, and then I had to get started again. But all I could think to say was that the project was going in "spits and farts." And I KNEW that I couldn't say THAT. That wasn't what I meant. EEK! It was the only thing in my brain, though. But I just kept my mouth shut for a change :D and didn't say anything at all...

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Speaking as only one grandparent, I LOVED the quote about the caps and gowns and individuality.

Grm

pink dogwood said...

'spits and farts' - hilarious :)

Sue said...

Mom -- really? I thought it would come off as being facetious or something. I thought it was funny, and kinda true. Anyway, the invites are printed, and now need to be assembled and mailed...

Pink -- I was a little worried about my brain being so muddled, but I did think it was funny too. At least, I thought it was funny after I finally figured out what it was that I really MEANT to say!

Beth said...

Love the spits and farts...actually seems kind of accurate...similar to fits and starts....and I thinkg the quote of individuality was quite comical.