Happy 12-12-24 number lovers!!
The Genesee Valley Chorus performs this Sunday December 15 in Wellsville
By Chuck Wiser, I write the words to share what my eyes see and my heart feels
For several weeks now I have noted on my “to do” writing list a Wrambling solely on old phrases, sayings, adages or other ancient phrases as recorded in “tomes” of the past. Based on recent research regarding what I am now going to write about, this one particular topic keeps revealing such subjects that are like “peeling away the leaves of a cabbage”. Just yesterday, reading a book that is in my *FAME* (see below) readings category, I came across the phrase; “the penny hasn’t dropped yet”. I have long advocated for doing away with the Pennies in our monetary system, and yet, in this sense, they have not been dropped as they just keep popping up in my pockets as change or laying on the ground somewhere. Apparently, someone dislikes them as much as I do. As I contemplated the phrase just read, I reached into my current research vessel, now known as Google, and looked up this phrase. By definition, “when the penny has dropped” is translated as meaning; “when somebody has finally realized or understood something.” The phrase was used in the book I was reading, and now knowing what it meant makes sense as the story character didn’t initially “have a clue” as to what was going on.
I’m beginning to realize that the penny is so ingrained in our history and heritage that it may never disappear. My recent research resulted in the knowledge that there are 382 phrases that are related to the penny, or it’s implied worth. Another word or term, that that I think I have used in previous writings was included in the explanation of the phrase I was researching. The words coin or coined are not listed as a form of currency but rather as verbs describing the making or using the term derived from the production of that monetary denomination. Those words, as verbs, are used to imply the making of something. To coin a phrase, used in the explanation used in my research, means to “make a phrase,” and coined is the past tense of the same word. Coining is the procedure of stamping or making coins. A 1930 British Daily Mirror publication report included a “coined” explanation of how the mechanized machines needed a “penny to drop” for their operation.
Early “mechanized” devices used in some fashion that needed payment and adapted to accept monetary payments, accepted a penny, or pennies, as the present currency of choice. To use the device, you would place a penny in the slot and then twist a knob or handle to deposit the penny into the cash receptacle. As soon as the penny was “dropped,” the transaction payment was received, accepted, and the machine was activated. Probably the simplest example that I can think of for illustration is the operation of a gumball machine. Put your penny in, twist the knob, the gumball drops out. Until “the penny drops,” no gumball. Raise your hand if you are guilty of shaking or hitting a machine to jar the money or the product loose. 🙋
Most of the simple terms, like “Pennies worth” or “not worth a cent,” are used to imply the value of the thing being described. Typically, this meant that they were of very little value. Most of the more descriptive “full” phrases, if analyzed, have a much deeper meaning than first considered. “In for a penny, in for a pound” means, to me, that once you have committed to something you might as well be fully involved. Another, “Penny wise and pound foolish” implies an intelligence, knowledge, or lack thereof. Some more include: “Stepping over a dime to pick up a penny”;“A penny for your thoughts”; “A penny saved is a penny earned”;
“Watch the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves”; When someone says to you, “A penny for your thoughts, and you put in your “two cents worth,” what happens to the other penny?
Once again, I used a word above that still makes me scratch my head over the use of a prefix that would appear to imply its exact opposite. Back to Google I go, it being a more readily available resource, if you trust “its” sources. The word analyze used a few paragraphs ago implies that something has been given deep thought, investigation, or serious consideration. The prefix anal refers to a bodily orifice that is key to the discarding of waste materials. In and of itself the term has directly opposite implications. Being “anal-retentive” or one who is extremely or excessively neat, careful or precise, is not typically a positive characteristic in my analysis. With all due apology I will close this segment with one slightly redacted word when I relate to being told to “get my head out of my a–”. By the way “Anal” is a stand-alone word all by itself.
Early December’s weather seems more like an extension of fall weather than winter weather. My feelings, especially about cold and snow, are mixed. If we are going to have snow, let there be enough that I can actually go out and “play with it.” When we just receive the snow in dribs and drabs, it is merely a nuisance. By wanting more snow, I mean enough to be able to use my mechanized devices, not needing a penny (as noted above) to operate, but rather has gasoline motivated power source. With the exception of snow-fall in dangerously extreme amounts, that jeopardize or inconvenience others, I like to be able to shovel or plow the white stuff. This accompanying picture shows a bit too much, showing a plow nearly unable to plow snow on East Hill (now known as County Rte. 31) coming out of Friendship, NY, in the 50’s I believe. I have a similar picture showing my wife and her brother in that same era, at the same spot, and amount of snow. As already plowed, it was way above their heads. I dasn’t share that picture to protect myself if “found out”. I also had a picture of myself shoveling snow away from my car in 1978 that was in the neighborhood of two feet deep, but the picture is likely too grainy to publish well.
If you are like me, you probably discard the envelopes included in a mailing asking you to submit payment or return the enclosed envelope with whatever they are asking for. I most likely discard over 100 of those envelopes a year. The other day I got smart and re-used the envelope for something entirely unrelated to that for which it was received. I have a roll of sticky backed paper, similar to Post It Correction Tape. It is wider and has a strong sticky adhesive. I placed a strip of that inch wide tape over the see-through address window, made sure it was securely holding and used the envelope. I call it frugal. Others call it “being cheap.”
That envelope usage, most likely with a very high rate of discard rather than use rate, is just one more example of our wastefulness. It isn’t us responsible for the manufacture or use of unusable products, but we are contributors. Another wasteful product that I at least try to turn into a useful item is the plastic prescription bottles that get discarded, most likely by the millions, nearly every day. You finish the prescription, remove the label, if you are wise or Wiser, and throw the bottle away. I cannot be convinced that there isn’t, or couldn’t be, a re-usable option for those.
All that would be required is sterilization and they could then be re-used. I save and re-use the larger bottles as vessels wherein to put my small pocket junk like leftover (or re-claimed) screws and small hardware. But you only need just so many of those.
Every drugstore could have a sterilization oven of sorts, and it would not take extensive space, nor commitment of time, to make those containers re-usable. I have about four hundred saved containers if anyone is interested. (Kidding).
Memory issues of aging seem to come in two flavors lately. The first and most obvious is not being able to remember something from the past, near or far term. Not remembering what to do or wanted to do whether long or short term is one aspect of failing memory. We all most likely, whether young or of old age, will go to another room in our dwelling to get something, only to have forgotten what it was you were going after. I guess that’s just human nature. What has become a more recent, and just as perplexing characteristic of aging memory is experienced when you go to do something and discover that you have already done it. I usually try to take copious notes to assist my memory and alleviate both of those characteristics of memory challenges. Then again, you need to remember to write the note.
My most recent memory related example of doing or not doing something, covered a months long span. Over the past couple of months, I have received multiple NYS Registration renewal notices from the Dept. of Motor Vehicles. Since the registration for the vehicle/entity used wasn’t due until late January I put the opened and unopened envelopes into our “mail to be dealt with later” holder. Late last week I received another such notice and decided to go ahead and send in the payment, and did so, enclosing my check for the renewal. Yesterday I received a nice note from Rob Christman stating that a review of their records revealed that I had renewed my registration “online” two weeks prior. Fortunately, he/they enclosed my returned check in the letter.
Christmas time activities for the Genesee Valley Chorus are starting to happen as we have a number of performances coming up very soon starting with our dress rehearsal for our Christmas concert last night. We also have a couple of other performances prior to our concert on Sunday afternoon. We will be singing and sharing our Christmas spirit and voices in song at a growing number of venues starting with the first actual performance tomorrow, Friday, December 13th.
This “sing out” entertainment will be for the guests at the Hart Comfort House at 10 AM singing some traditional Holiday season songs such as: Silent Night, Joy to the World, etc. On Saturday we will be performing for a Veteran’s association event at the Genesee Valley Central School and will perform a couple of our concert songs along with some National or Military flavored music including the National Anthem and the Armed Forces Medley.
Our main annual Holiday concert performance, Sunday, December 15th will be performed at the Immaculate Conception Church in Wellsville, NY as noted on the illustration that follows.
I will save the rest of my Christmas and Holiday wishes for next week’s edition and leave you once again with the invitation to reach out to me with any cares, concerns or comments, or something that you would like me to look into and present back to others in my Wramblings. I take much pleasure from being able to learn, and share what I learn, with others.
