The Other Day...
The other day… [STOP]
The post I was preparing to write needs to wait for a brief moment while I explain the phrase above – “The other day.”
I grew up in South Carolina. Along with sand fleas, mosquitoes and inbreeding, the south is known for several colloquial phrases. Where I come from, we know what “the other day” means, and it means something very specific.
“The other day” refers to a period of time that can be from yesterday to several decades past. The meaning, when used by a true Southerner, is to say “When it happened is something I am not prepared to commit to right now, and in fact when isn’t the damn point I’m trying to make and so don’t get hung up on when, or who even, just listen to what I’m getting ready to say next and know that it did in fact happen and it is important that you listen to the story and not get distracted by the facts -now.”
So when I say “the other day” I was listening to Oprah – it isn’t to tell you which episode or year so you can go back and watch it, I’m telling you that what I think about what I saw on Oprah “the other day” is something you need to know.
When I tell you “the other day” I was talking to Aunt Margie – it doesn’t matter that Aunt Margie has been dead for ten years; I’m telling you that she knew something that you need to know right now because it may save you a heap of trouble later.
And, most certainly, when your mother says to you “the other day” I was cleaning your room – be sure that what follows next will not be a discussion about which day ‘exactly’ it was but rather something much more critical to your living future…
I hope that helps. So, the other day…
The post I was preparing to write needs to wait for a brief moment while I explain the phrase above – “The other day.”
I grew up in South Carolina. Along with sand fleas, mosquitoes and inbreeding, the south is known for several colloquial phrases. Where I come from, we know what “the other day” means, and it means something very specific.
“The other day” refers to a period of time that can be from yesterday to several decades past. The meaning, when used by a true Southerner, is to say “When it happened is something I am not prepared to commit to right now, and in fact when isn’t the damn point I’m trying to make and so don’t get hung up on when, or who even, just listen to what I’m getting ready to say next and know that it did in fact happen and it is important that you listen to the story and not get distracted by the facts -now.”
So when I say “the other day” I was listening to Oprah – it isn’t to tell you which episode or year so you can go back and watch it, I’m telling you that what I think about what I saw on Oprah “the other day” is something you need to know.
When I tell you “the other day” I was talking to Aunt Margie – it doesn’t matter that Aunt Margie has been dead for ten years; I’m telling you that she knew something that you need to know right now because it may save you a heap of trouble later.
And, most certainly, when your mother says to you “the other day” I was cleaning your room – be sure that what follows next will not be a discussion about which day ‘exactly’ it was but rather something much more critical to your living future…
I hope that helps. So, the other day…
Labels: emotion, family, father's wisdom, life on life's terms, meanderings, writing
posted by Kim Williams at
6:57 PM
6 Comments:
Love this!!
This post makes you sound old.... But as you say "old guyys rule!" :)
Ha! Ha! Great post! I didn't even realize "the other day" was unusual. Sometimes, it's pronounced "t'other" day. That's when everybody and his brother came to the party:)
Thanks for a good laugh today, Kim. I needed it!
Good post!
Will be sending other Southern Readers/Writers your way; most excellent!
hey! netchick sent me here!
interesting how these phrases are used. "the other day" - hm - the farthest i'd stretch it would be a few weeks ago. if it was more than that (3 months, say) i'd probably correct myself, like, "the other day, well, actually, it was back in may ...". that's a german speaking canajun (for 27 years now)
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