What Would Jimmy Do?

A couple of days ago I talked about how we think of the word cheer as being associated with happiness. But — it wasn’t always that way.
Originally, a cheer was something to be seen, not heard — and sometimes the sight was one of sadness.

Cheer is a word adapted from Anglo-French, which itself is derived from the Medieval Latin cara and probably the Greek kara. All of those source words mean “face.” The English word cheer (often found in medieval writings in the form chere) shares that meaning.

That came to refer to a person’s facial expression as well as to a person’s state of mind, heart, or spirit. So a person’s cheer could run the emotional gamut from happiness to sadness depending on the circumstances. It wasn’t until the 1300s that people began associating cheer more often with a state or feeling of happiness rather than sadness or despondency. 

Next time you’re out with friends, and have had a few “cheers,” you might mention how cheer meant “face” in medieval times and how cheer as a word for happiness is a relatively recent development. 

And I guess before we leave the subject, because “Cheers” is often associated with a toast, it might be appropriate to talk about toasting….
The term toast — having a drink to one’s health, happiness, or accomplishment, comes from the literal practice of dropping a piece of toast in your drink. In the 16th century, it was a common practice to add a piece of scorched or spiced toast to wine. The bread would help to soak up some of the acidity and improve the flavor of poor or cheap wine. As a bonus, it would also help to soften the stale bread. If you’re a fan of Shakespeare, you may remember that in the Merry Wives of Windsor, Falstaff called for a quart of wine and said, “put a toast in it.”

By the 18th century, the term toast had come to mean a person honored by the toast, rather than an actual floating piece of bread. You’ve probably heard some particularly famous or popular people referred to as “the toast of the town.”
So, in the spirit of the season, gather round, and raise a toast and cheers to happiness, good health, and a better year ahead. 
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This time of year, the word “cheer” seems to pop up a lot. The word is usually associated with happiness, enthusiasm and encouragement — think of carolers spreading holiday cheer, or the “cheers” you always hear at happy hour, or maybe football fans cheering on their team. And of course the new year is right around the corner — at the stroke of midnight, lots and lots of people will raise their glasses and say “cheers” and toast the new year. 

So I wondered all this cheer came about….
“Cheers” originated from the old French word chiere which meant “face” or “head.” But by the 18th century, it came to mean “gladness,” and was used as a way to express encouragement. And today, “Cheers,” has become a symbolic way of toasting with the wish of good cheer and good health to those around us — it’s kind of an expression of camaraderie. 
Almost all of us clink glasses with others before a drink. It seems like that has been practiced for centuries. Maybe we clink glasses because it’s a coming together of friends and physically touching glasses makes it more of a communal celebration. 

Back in Medieval times, glasses were clinked and peopled cheered loudly to ward off any demons or evil spirits. People also believed that it was good to clink glasses to spill some on the floor — leaving some for the bad spirits so they would leave you alone. A German tradition is to bang mugs of alcohol on the table and yell loudly to scare away ghosts or evil spirits. 

And there’s one school of thought that toasting was a way to avoid being poisoned. Back in the days when poisoning a foe’s drink was a convenient way to kill him, it was believed that if glasses were filled to the brim and then clinked hard, a bit of alcohol from each glass would spill into the other. 

Ancient civilizations had a way of honoring their gods during drinking ceremonies or feasts. I’m not sure they said “cheers,” but toasting is thought to come from sacrificial libation in which a scared liquid (blood or wine) was offered to the gods in exchange for a wish, or a prayer for health. Both the Greeks and Romans had a tradition to leave an offering to the gods, including alcoholic beverages, during celebrations and often times after a death. In Greek mythology, the god of wine, Bacchus, was often toasted. A lot of times, even today, we raise our glasses upwards to the heavens like we’re offering the gods a toast to the health of the living. 

I’ve been a lot of places, and just about all of them say “cheers.” In their own language, of course. 
Here’s some I remember from over the years….
In Japanese — Kanpai
Spanish — Salud
German — Prost
French — Sante
干杯 (Ganbei) in Chinese
Hungarian is Ege’szse’gedre
In Polish, it’s Na zdrowie
And in Vietnam, we said “do” (pronounced DZO)

During my extensive research on this subject, I discovered that cheer hasn’t always been used so “cheerily” — but that’s a subject for next time. I’m glad it turned out the way it did — no matter what language, I think it’s a nice custom. 
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I grew up in Oklahoma and I had to take Oklahoma History during my student days. Oklahoma has a pretty interesting history, being Indian Territory before becoming a state. One interesting fact is that the Oklahoma Panhandle was known as No Man’s Land from 1850 to 1890. Maybe I’ll talk about why that was one of these days, but today’s subject is No Man’s Land. 

Most of us have heard the term a good part of our lives. And, even today, there are a lot of places named No Man’s Land. For instance, there is a No Man’s Land in the Caradon district of southeast Cornwall, England, a No Man’s Land on East Falkland Island and a Nomans Land Island in Chilmark, Massachusetts.

Most of the places are uninhabited. The terrain of the Falkland Island No Man’s Land is extremely rough because of the mountains known as Wickham Heights. And the Nomans Island, Massachusetts is only three miles off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard — it was once a bombing practice range.

The phrase No Man’s Land has been used seems like forever. It’s often used to reference an unoccupied area between the front lines of opposing armies, or to designate land that is unowned, undesirable or otherwise under dispute.

Following the Louisiana Purchase between the United States and Spain, an area called the Neutral Strip or Sabine Free State was also known as No Man’s Land. It was designated neutral ground because the two governments couldn’t agree on a boundary. From 1806 to 1819, both countries claimed ownership of the tract, but neither enforced any laws or control and it became a haven for outlaws and renegades.

In the early 1300s, a plot of land just outside the north walls of London was called No Man’s Land. It was a place where criminals were executed and left out in the open for public view. I suppose that wouldn’t be considered a “nice” neighborhood….
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We were talking about Christmas decorations and I mentioned that quite a few years ago, Claire always put tinsel on our Christmas tree. You pretty much don’t see tinsel at all these days, and if you do, it certainly doesn’t look like it did years ago. 

Tinsel is a funny word — according to the Oxford dictionary, the word comes from the old French word estincele, meaning “sparkle.
It’s defined as:
• a form of decoration consisting of thin strips of shiny metal foil
• showy or superficial attractiveness or glamour

The tinsel that Claire used was shiny metal “strips” and she hung them on the tree and they reflected the tree lights and made them seem to flicker. I did some checking and modern tinsel was invented in Nuremberg around 1610 and was originally made from extruded strands of silver. But because silver tarnishes quickly, it was soon made of other shiny metals. 

Tinsel was very popular during the 1950s and 60s, and probably even into the 70s. Most tinsel back then was made of lead foil. Unlike silver, lead tinsel didn’t tarnish. But lead tinsel was phased out due to concern that exposure created a risk of lead poisoning. Tinsel is now typically made from polyvinyl chloride (PVD) film coated with a metallic finish. The problem with the new material is that the tinsel doesn’t hang as well as tinsel made from heavy metals — I’m pretty sure that’s the reason Claire stopped putting it on our trees. 

And while on the subject of tinsel, I’ve always heard Hollywood referred to as “Tinseltown” — what’s that all about? Hollywood is, or at least was, the capital of the American film industry. The fact that Tinseltown became a popular slang term for it isn’t particularly surprising. Tinsel is a shiny material used for Christmas decorations — it’s a little gaudy, but has no real substance. Hollywood, rightly or wrongly, has gotten the reputation of being a place that is beautiful on the surface, but underneath, is a harsh and ugly place. 
So Tinseltown has come to mean a place that’s like tinsel — shiny and bright on the surface, but fragile and not made of solid material.
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I’m not sure exactly why, but I’ve been on the subject of legends and folklore lately. Before I get off the subject, I think I should point out that the early Americans had their own legends and folktales. A lot of their tales express an appreciation of nature — as you might expect from a people who lived close to the land and loved it. 
If you’ve followed this blog over the years, you may have noticed a few tributes to my Indian heritage… in the form of quotes, prayers, etc. So I don’t want to leave the subject of storytelling without another tribute to my heritage — here’s a legend that tells how the Indians were introduced to corn…..

In times past, a poor Indian was living with his wife and children in a beautiful part of the country. Unfortunately, he was not too clever in getting food for his family, and his children were all too young to give him assistance. Although poor, he was a man of a kind and contented disposition. He was always thankful to the Great Spirit for everything he received.

At the time of this story his eldest son Wunzh had arrived at the proper age for the fasting ceremony to see what kind of spirit would be his guide and guardian through life. Wunzh was of a pensive and mild disposition and was beloved by the whole family. At the first sign of spring they built, for his fast, the customary little lodge at a secluded spot, far from any possible interruption or disturbance. As soon as it was ready, Wunzh went into the lodge and began the fast. During the first few days he amused himself by walking in the woods, examining the early plants and flowers. 

While he rambled through the woods, he wished to know how the plants, herbs, and berries grew. “Why are some good to eat and some poisonous?” he wondered. “True, the Great Spirit made all things, and it is to him that we owe our lives. But could he not make it easier for us to get our food than by hunting animals and catching fish?”

After a while Wunzh became weak from the fast and kept to his bed. While lying down, he imagined that he saw a handsome young man coming from the sky toward him. He was richly dressed, having on a great many garments of green and yellow, but differing in their shades. He had a plume of waving feathers on his head, and all his motions were graceful. 
“I am sent to you, my friend,” said the visitor, “by that Great Spirit who made all things in the sky and on the earth. He knows your motives in fasting and sees that you wish to do good for your people.He knows that you do not seek strength in war. I have been sent to show you how you can help your kindred.”

The stranger then told Wunzh to rise and wrestle with him. Though weak from fasting, Wunzh felt his courage rising. He determined to die rather than fail. So Wunzh began the trial. As he was almost exhausted, the stranger said, “That is enough for now. I will come again.”
The stranger disappeared and reappeared the next day. Again the two renewed the trial. Wunzh was getting weaker, but his courage seemed stronger than ever.
“Tomorrow will be your last trial,” said the stranger. “Be strong and you will obtain the favor you seek.”

On the third day the trial was again resumed. After a time, the stranger declared, “you have won.” Then he entered the lodge and spoke to Wunzh.
“You have won your favor from the Great Spirit. Tomorrow will be the seventh day of your fasting. I shall meet you then and wrestle you for the last time. As soon as you have conquered me, strip off  my garments and throw me down. Clean the earth of roots and weeds, make it soft, and bury me in the spot. When you have done this, leave my body in the earth and do not disturb it. Come occasionally to visit the place to see whether I have come to life. Be careful never to let the grass or weeds grow on my grave. Once a month cover me with fresh earth. If you follow my instructions, you will do good for your family.” He then shook Wunzh by the hand and disappeared.

In the morning the youth’s father came to him with refreshments, saying, “My son, you have fasted long enough.”
“My father,” replied the youth, “wait till the sun goes down. I have a reason for extending my fast to that hour.”

Once again the sky-visitor returned, and the trial of strength was renewed. Wunzh felt that extra strength had been given to him. He wrestled his antagonist to the ground and followed the directions exactly. He buried his friend but felt confident he would come to life. He returned to his father’s lodge, but he never forgot for a moment the grave of his friend. He carefully visited it throughout the spring. He weeded out the grass, and kept the ground soft. Soon he saw the tops of the green plumes coming through the ground. The more careful he was to keep the ground in order, the faster the plumes grew.

As the summer was drawing to a close, Wunzh invited his father to visit the grave of his heavenly opponent. At that spot stood a tall and graceful plant, with bright-colored silken hair, topped with nodding plumes and leaves. On each side of the plant were golden clusters. 
“It is my friend,” cried Wunzh. “It is the friend of all mankind. It is Mon-daw-min. We need no longer rely on hunting alone, for as long as this gift is cherished and taken care of, the ground will give us a living.”
He paused and pulled off an ear from the plant. “See, my father,” said he. “This is what I fasted for. The Great Spirit has listened to my voice and sent us something new. From now on our people will not depend only upon the chase or the waters.”

Wunzh then told his father the instructions given by the stranger. He showed how the broad husks must be torn away, as he pulled off the garments in the wrestling match. Then he showed how the ear must be held before the fire till all the outer skin turns brown, while all the milk is retained in the grain.The whole family then united in a feast on the newly grown ears, expressing thanks to the Merciful Spirit who provided it. So corn came into the world.
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Seems like in the last year, I’ve found a lot to worry about. Actually I don’t think I’d consider myself a “worrier” but lately I just find myself worrying about all sorts of things. Anyhow, the other day I was cleaning out one of the drawers in an upstairs dresser and ran across a sign that Claire used to have on her nightstand. It’s a little sign that says “Simplify.” 

I always thought that was good advice and I got to thinking it should apply pretty much across the board — most everything in the world seems to be getting more complicated. So maybe worry can be simplified, too. After all, Alfred E. Neuman is famous for saying, “What, me worry?”

So why not simplify worry…. 
There are really only two things to worry about, either you are healthy or you are sick. If you are healthy, then there is nothing to worry about. But if you are sick there are only two things to worry about, either you get well or you die. If you get well, there is nothing to worry about. But if you die, there are only two things to worry about, either you will go to heaven or to hell. If you go to heaven, then there is nothing to worry about. And if you go to hell, you’ll be so busy shaking hands with your friends you won’t have time to worry.
There — now I just have to worry if I should have written this blog in the first place…..
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I’ve never liked staying at a Bed & Breakfast (B&B.) We’ve stayed at a few over the years, but I actually prefer a nice hotel. Obviously that’s my preference and lots of people I know think B&B’s are much better than hotels/motels. 

But lately, I’ve noticed there’s been a lot of talk, and TV advertisements, about something called an AirB&B. Well, when I was younger, I’d have been embarrassed to admit that I didn’t know what that was. But I guess the world is just moving too fast for me these days…. But I was curious enough to look it up.

From what I can tell, the concept of an “AirB&B” was born when Brian Chesky and Joe Geggia started renting out air mattresses in their San Francisco apartment to provide temporary housing for attendees of a design conference. They called it “Air Bed & Breakfast.” The idea was to provide affordable lodging and a unique experience compared to traditional hotels. The idea caught on and Brian Chesky, Joe Geggia, and later, Nathan Blecharczyk formed a company called Airbnb.
I think the term AirB&B today actually refers to anyone that wants to rent out all or part of their house/apartment for short periods of time to other people. 

The advantages of this type of lodging arrangement include:
They’re usually cheaper than hotels, especially for long stays, or larger groups
Lot of options — from budget-friendly apartments to luxury homes
Potentially lets guests immerse themselves in local neighborhoods and culture
Many rentals offer kitchens, laundry facilities, and flexible check-out times.
The “host” can provide local recommendations or personal touches
Offerings usually provide more room than traditional hotel accommodations.

Of course, like most everything, there are some disadvantages:
Experiences can vary widely depending on the host, property and location
Cleaning and service fees can significantly increase the cost — sometimes making it comparable to hotels.
Some cities have strict regulations or even outright bans on short-term rentals
There can be unclear policies on cancellations, safety issues or disputes between guests and hosts
Unlike hotels, AirB&Bs often lack amenities like daily housekeeping, on-site staff, or room service
Critics argue that these operations contribute to housing shortages and increase rent in popular tourist destinations. 

So — from what I can tell, I’d still prefer a hotel. Maybe the one thing that would concern me the most is that they are unregulated. Even regular B&Bs are regulated in the same way as hotels. They’re required to hold proper licensure, and to be inspected by the state and health departments. But because AirB&Bs are private residences, they are not held to the same standard.
If you think I’m stuck in the past, you’re probably right. But if I go somewhere, I don’t want to arrive via Uber and stay in someone’s basement…. I still prefer to take a taxi and go to a hotel.
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Seems like the subject lately has been about myths, legends and folklore. I pondered that a bit — our rich cultural past is present in many ways… myths, legends and folklore being just some of them. One thing I don’t think we’ve talked about is allusions. Allusions are indirect references to well-known figures, events, or cultural works and very often used in literature and conversation and even the arts and media.
For example: “May the Force be with you” from Star Wars — this phrase symbolizes good luck and a sense of inner strength. “Big Brother” refers to excessive government surveillance or authoritarianism — it’s from George Orwell’s 1984. “Watergate” is an allusion to political scandals or corruption — it references the 1972 Watergate scandal that led to President Nixon’s resignation.

But anyhow, I since the subject of this blog recently has been about myths and folklore, I realized that these tales are full of allusions and some of them are even ingrained in our language and culture…. for instance:
“Achilles’ heel” refers to a person’s single vulnerability or weakness — it’s based on the Greek hero whose heel was his only mortal spot.
“Pandora’s Box” symbolizes an action or decision that unleashes unexpected troubles — that’s from a Greek myth where Pandora opened a box releasing all evils into the world.
“The Holy Grail” symbolizes an ultimate goal or aspiration — it’s the mythical chalice sought in King Author tales
“David and Goliath” refers to an underdog overcoming a giant challenge — based on the biblical story.
“The Tower of Babel” alludes to confusion of the failure to communicate, inspired by the biblical tale of humanity’s attempt to build a tower to Heaven.
“The Garden of Eden” symbolizes paradise or innocence — again, from a biblical origin story.
“Paul Bunyan” alludes to strength and larger-than-life feats — from the mythical lumberjack tale.
“Pied Piper” symbolizes someone who leads others, often to their detriment — this comes from a German folktale.
“Bigfoot” represents mystery or the unknown — part of American folklore.
“Phoenix” symbolizes rebirth or rising from the ashes — from the myth of the mythological bird that regenerates after burning.
“Midas Touch” describes someone with a talent for making anything successful — alluding to King Midas, who turned everything he touched into gold.
“Herculean effort” indicates an extraordinary feat of strength or perseverance — referencing the twelve labors of Hercules.

So you can see that allusions from myths, legends and folklore abound everywhere and we use them all the time — and that’s a good thing. They enrich our storytelling and conversation.
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I met a couple of friends for drinks yesterday afternoon. One was already there when I arrived and he asked if the other friend had come with me. I told him no, and he said he hoped that he hadn’t forgotten, because it had been a long time since we had gotten together. He had hardly gotten the words out of his mouth when the second friend arrived and he said “speak of the devil….” 

“Speak of the devil” is something I’ve heard, and used, all my life. It’s kind of a curious phrase, since it’s usually used when referring to friends.
I wondered how did it originate and how did it come into popular use…. 

Not surprisingly, like most idioms, “speak of the devil” doesn’t have a clear, defined origin. But it appears to have originated from an old proverb that cautioned against mentioning the devil, because it was believed to invoke his presence. In medieval England, people had superstitions about the power of words and believed that naming the devil could summon him. A number of variations of the idea appeared in multiple languages and cultures — often as warnings against speaking of evil or dangerous entities.

The original expression was longer — something like “Speak of the devil, and he will appear,” or as the English say, “Talk of the devil, and he’s presently at your elbow.” The phrase was used as a literal warning rooted in superstition. But over time, its meaning evolved and became more lighthearted.

The phrase became increasingly common, particularly in informal conversation. It shed its superstitious origins and came to mean something more like: “We were just talking about you, and here your are!” When its used today it’s recognized an an idiom with no serious connection to its original darker origins.
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Just about everything these days is controversial, so I suppose Mother Goose shouldn’t be any different. Mother Goose stories are basically folk tales that were originally told to children to entertain them. I remember reading some of them to our kids when they were small. I think they mostly appealed to them, not because of their content, but because of their “rhymes.” But Mother Goose contains some rhymes that were never meant for children. Some of the innocent counting verses and tips for learning the ABCs are old songs from the taverns and streets, or war songs, romantic ballads and political satires based on scandals among the ruling classes. 

My extensive research found that the first known Mother Goose book was Charles Perrault’s Contes de Ma Mere L’Oye (Tales of My Mother Goose) published in France in 1697. Perrault’s book was a collection of fairy tales including Sleeping Beauty and Little Red Riding Hood. 

Mother Goose “rhymes” first appeared in England in 1765 in a book called Mother Goose’s Melody, or Sonnets for the Cradle. Around 1785, a pirated edition of the book was reprinted in the United States.
I found the background, or “history” of some of Mother Goose verses…. and they don’t seem like kid stuff — some examples:

Baa Baa, Black Sheep — This verse can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It’s a bitter complaint about an export tax, not about sheep. 
Baa baa,
Black Sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes, marry, have I. Three bags full:
One for my master,
One for my dame,
And one for the little boy
That lives in the lane!
The hard working peasant in this rhyme gave a third of his income to the king, called “my master” and another third to the nobility, sneeringly labeled “my dame.” That left only a third of his income for “the little boy,” who was the peasant himself. 

Humpty Dumpty — This rhyme is an “eggsellent” example of the controversies surrounding Mother Goose. 
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall;
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men
Couldn’t put Humpty together again. 
In 1930, Katherine Thomas’s book, The Real Personages of Mother Goose, explained that Humpty Dumpty was about King Richard III of England. At the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, Richard commanded a hilltop (the wall in the rhyme.) In spite of all the efforts of his horses and men, Richard fell from his horse, and after this “great fall,” was killed. [Richard is the Shakespearean character who cried, “My kingdom for a horse!”]
Others think Humpty dates back to the English Civil War in 1648, and that Humpty Dumpty refers to King Charles I’s huge cannon mounted on the wall of a church tower. When the wall was blown up, the cannon tumbled to the ground, where it lay, broken and useless — the king’s men couldn’t fix it.
Another group believes Humpty Dumpty was Charles himself. When he lost the war, that was his “great fall.”He was beheaded by his enemies and — obviously —his men couldn’t put him back together. Scholars today continue to debate the identity  of the egg. There is no consensus yet on Humpty’s true identity.

Jack and Jill — It’s probably the most controversial of all the rhymes. The tiny village of Kilmersdon, England, takes first claim, but others say that the village’s ideas are wrong.
Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown,
And Jill came tumbling after.
Kilmersdon, 200 miles west of London, formed a Jack and Jill committee to renovate the hill where they claim Jack broke his crown in the 15th century. Some say that Jack and Jill went up the hill, not to get water, but to….. be alone. Jill supposedly died of a broken heart after she gave birth to their son. Many people living nearby have the last name of Gilson (Jill’s son …???)
But — the Scandinavians cite a myth that dates back to the 13th century. Two children went to steal a bucket of dew from the moon god. The moon captured them, and the images of the children with a bucket suspended between them can be viewed on the surface of a full moon. Some people say that this myth — not an accident in Kilmersdon — is the origin of the rhyme. In yet another interpretation, there was never any female Jill and the rhyme mocks two boys, Jack and Gill, who were actually Cardinal Wolsey and Bishop Tarbes, who were hated for trying to raise an unpopular war tax. Other people are sure that Jack and Jill aren’t even human. A “jack and gill” were liquid measurements, and drinking was taxed by jacks and gills. According to some historians, Charles I tried to increase taxes by making the actual measurement of jacks and gills smaller while taxing them at the same rate. Remember, as explained in Humpty Dumpty, Charles lost his crown….. and his head. 

So….. was there a real Mother Goose and was she actually based on a real person? As you might guess, even Mother Goose herself is controversial.
Old Mother Goose
When she wanted to wander
Would ride through the air,
On a very fine gander. 
Some folklorists trace Mother Goose to an 8th-century French noblewoman, Bertrada II of Loan. Queen Bertrada was the mother of Emperor Charlemagne, who united much of Europe. The empress-mum may have been pigeon-toed, and was apparently known by the unflattering title of Queen Goosefoot. Eight centuries later, a French poem includes a line about a “tale from Mother Goose.” By the time Charles Perrault’s Le Conte de Ma Mere L’Oye appeared, the French legend of an old woman who entertained children with fascinating stories was well established.

Eventually Mother Goose became well known to American children as a rhyme-reciting granny riding a goose. In Boston, Massachusetts, there is a Tremont Street grave of Mistress Elizabeth Foster VerGoose. Tourists are told the widow entertained her grandchildren with rhymes and that her son-in-law, Thomas Fleet, published the rhymes as Songs for the Nursery or Mother Goose’s Melodies. But — no such book has ever been found. 
So maybe there was a real Mother Goose — or — maybe not. But no matter if she was real or not, she’s had her share of imposters…..
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