Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Wordplay Wednesday™ July 6, 2016 – Happy Talk



What makes you HAPPY?

Although the Universe loves to throw life changing cherry-bombs at me, I generally find a way to dodge or diffuse them before they can make me unhappy – at least for more than a day – or until happy hour. And we know it’s 5 o’clock somewhere!

After another such game-changer today, and needing to write this article, I wondered – what would make me happy – right now. Of course, the upcoming 500+ Mega Million$ lottery would make me smile – a lot. For the moment, though, I do what I always do to diffuse the bomb – write.

Curiosity got the best of me – how many “happy” terms are in the dictionary?

Of course, the Webster’s folks are relatively choosey. One might expect a bushel full of happy terms created with hyphens, and of course there are happy words running off to form “happiness,” and more. Officially, though, there are only five happy phrases, plus the core word.

You’re likely familiar with “happy camper,” “happy-go-lucky,” “happy hour” (my fave!), and “happy hunting ground.” But do you know the Webster’s “happy” term that is actually an oxymoron and (in my humble opinion) should be redefined?

HAPPY TALK (radio, tv) – a style of news presentation characterized by cheerful commentary and informal conversation among anchors during newscasts. [WW #67] 

 I don’t know about you, but I don’t think there is any way the newscasters can sugarcoat what is going on in our world these days!

What’s cheerful about terrorists, home invasions, and every news show trying to outdo the other with carnage and negative news?

“Happy” is a fleeting, subjective word – in our world, often it’s that which makes one person “happy,” turns someone else livid. Go figure.

This writing exercise has urged me to consider what – today at this moment – makes me happy.

The love of my family and close friends … and a cold beer in summer. Cheers!

Word of the Week: HAPPY TALK. Feel free to say what makes YOU happy on Twitter or Facebook, while fitting it into your own writings for the week.


                       


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