Who Knew?

In 1999, John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife, Carolyn, and her sister, Lauren Bessette, died when their single-engine plane, piloted by Kennedy, plunged into the Atlantic Ocean near Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.

I remember hearing the first words of the missing plane and who was on it and knowing it was over.  I knew the circumstances, watched it unfold as did everyone because John John was royalty.  He was also this guy who was always downtown in Soho, on his bike, or roller blades. at bars and always a big flirt. 

One summer night in 1998, out with friends celebrating   Max ’s having passed the BAR exam.  We were down on West Broadway at Lucky Strike and Box a very Euro bar with great drinks.  JFK jr. came in, and went to the bar.   Notoriously he had not passed the BAR in his first attempt, and had real difficulty passing it later.  I always saw him  but I would never approach him, there was no reason to and he was always surrounded by women anyway.  So the joke/idea was that we should ask him to join us for a toast to Max for his achievement,  passing the BAR on his first try.   It was teasing and mean and I don’t do mean.  There was no way I would go through with it even though the bar was rather quiet that night and the fact was John John had looked over a few times and smiled his famous smile in our direction.  My friends kept telling me to go over, he was looking and I was being ridiculous, but I had no intention. 

As he was leaving, he veered toward our table and said  ”Hope you are having a good night,”  looking and locking eyes with me and then smiled the killer smile and walked out.  Well my “cool” friends all burst out into nervous laughter as I turned crimson red.   I was so happy they never went through with their childish dig. 

A year later he was married and missing and everyone I knew was crushed ,shocked and in disbelief.  How could it be in real life, that this could happen to him?  I mean why?  The Kennedy curse just would not relent.  I remember my first thought  was, thank G-d Jackie O. had passed, and about Caroline and her utter despair over her baby brother.  The Bessette family losing two daughters in a national tragedy.  The search went on for over three days but I grieved knowing there was no surprise ending. 

It was like Princess Diana all over again.  It devastated the country and the world.

I am a sentimental person so I shared that silly story.  Rest in peace, John, Carolyn and Lauren you are not forgotten.

         A little girl I am whisked away. All together, Mama, Papa and Babushka (grandma) board a plane to who knows where. We all land safely, on some ground. I ask “Is this where we are moving to?”

         “No, dear not yet, this is where we wait.” I am told.

          Wait?  Alright then, it is a lovely place. Near the beach we stay with Senora Maria. They don’t speak my language here, I quickly realize.  They speak Italian, we are in Lodispoli, somewhere south of Rome, Mama tells me.  There are children there and they are friendly, we play outside, mostly on the beach and I learn “ciao” and many new words as I play each day.  I understand them soon enough and they laugh when I say something funny in Italian but they help me and I learn.

          Three months fly by and the wait is over, we must board another plane. Babushka is tired and somewhat ill; she seems scared as mama and papa explain that we have the “Visa’s” whatever those are, but they are happy so I know it must be a good thing. As the plane lands safely once again I ask “Is this where we are going to live?”  Mama says yes while busy making sure our parcels are all there.

          There are very few parcels, and I was only allowed to bring my favorite doll, just one.  I left the rest behind with my best friend, Katya. She seemed happy but still cried that morning when we left.  She knew we would not see each other again; she was older than I and much cleverer.

          So there we are in a very busy airport once again, waiting.  Suddenly I am whisked into the arms of a beautiful young girl.  She hugs me as black tears rush down her face.  Mama is confused but I know this girl, it is Marina my only cousin.   Mama is shocked she has grown so much, a woman she is and they hug and cry.  Bella and George my Totya (aunt) and Dadya (uncle) are there too.  Everyone is crying, but not me, it’s too exciting with all the commotion.

           I hold Babushkas hand as we walk through “JFK” and it is a long walk for her.  She is tired, very tired and I want to leave this place with all the strange people speaking another language I don’t understand.  Marina speaks it well and I laugh when I learn my first word, “OK”.  Everything is “ok” as we get into the van with our parcels and everyone in the van together.  Mama and Bella keep crying and laughing, they act strange and nervous but I am OK.  We are on our way to our new house, it is May 10, 1979 and it is hotter than I have ever felt before.

Copyright ©2008 Veronica Romm

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1.

2.   Fierce: savage; wild; indicating cruelty; ravenous; rapacious; as, ferocious look or features.

On so many levels this word grates on my nerves.  From Christian Siriano the odd little elf man who won Project Runway and took the word to  nerve rattling level.  To Tyra Banks who displays her lack of command of adjectives and of the English language all together by using the word in every sentence.

3.  Misspoke: –verb (used with object), verb (used without object), -spoke, -spok·en, -speak·ing.

1. to speak, utter, or pronounce incorrectly.
2. to speak inaccurately, inappropriately, or too hastily.

 Oh this one has been abused like no other word since Hillary Clinton decided to run for G-d, I mean President of the United States. The worst part is that when used it is usually a PC term for “having said something really really inappropriate.”

4.   Schadenfreude: definition; A malicious satisfaction obtained from the misfortunes of others.

All I can say about this word is that it has been used in every article I have read in The New Yorker, Vanity Fair and well, every other magazine I have picked up (and I have a minor magazine obsession).

FYI:  I went to dictionary.com and guess what?  It is today’s word of the day. How appropriate.

5.   Dawg:  I am not going to go to the trouble of giving a definition here.  Anyone who has seen even one     episode of American Idol has heard this word overused and abused by Randy Jackson, though he is among many offenders in the pseudo hip hop world. 

6.  Super-delegate:   A party leader or elected official chosen as an uncommitted delegate to a national political convention. (Origin 1984). 

 So apparently prior to 1984 these people were just plain old folks, and then perhaps due to some genetic X-men type metamorphosis they became super.  Though I am not sure if capes are required attire, but if I was a super delegate I would definitely wear one.  I mean there should be perks right? 

7.  Baby Daddy/Mamma: Are we so lazy that we cant say the entire phrase?  The definition as I understand it applies to an unmarried couple expecting a child.  Personally I think it is offensive and is a rude way to refer to a person. 

8.  _______ilicious: i.e. Fergalicious, Bootilicious and so on.  Please put this one away, for all that is good and holy, let it die soon.

9.  Cougar:     Significant age disparity in sexual relationships has been and remains a feature of couples in many cultures and societies. The most common pattern in heterosexual couples is an older man with a younger woman.

This one infuriates me .  It makes women seem predatory and desperate.  However the women being called this have yet to complain to my knowledge.  I know I would be less than thrilled to be labeled in such a way.  Unless of course I was on a reality show vying for some young hotties attention. (Yeah right).

10. Bromance:  A close and affectionate platonic friendship between two men.  I.e. Brad Pitt and George Clooney. 

I think that this is one word that should never be uttered out loud.

11.  Metrosexual:  I.e. Ryan Seacrest.  This one is just a personal pet peeve. 

New Entries: As of July 5 2008

12.  Man-date:  Similar to bromance but spending time together a lot.

13.  Bump:  This refers to pregnant womens expanding womb, therefore bump diminishes the importance.

14.  Werd/Word:  It’s got to go, if you are over 30, you cant respond with werd, werd?

15.  Brangelina, Johniston, Beniffer, or any other comboname.  This is a serious pet peeve.

So now I invite you to add to this list, for this is by no means exhaustive.  I am sure you can think of a few that are worthy of a place on this list.  Share them, exorcise them from your vocabulary or just commiserate.

Contributed by readers:

1. Pop.” it is used to describe everything from curtains to eye makeup. Thank you Meander for adding this highly overused term by both magazines and tv shows when doing the make-over.  As in “the fake lashes make the models eyes really Pop!  I must assume there is an exclamation point after thats said.

2. Pwn:  am tired of people using “pwn”. It was a slandering of the word “own” in gaming by someone with a lazy pinky-finger. But really it just makes me want to punch my computer.

3. Peace out:

A co-worker constantly hits me with “peace out” as he leaves. I know most would quickly make the assumption of laid back hippie hood but no. This white boy is the product of an elite, upper class family and is firmly entrenched in the corporate world.

Him: “Peace Out, Megellen!”

Me: Bonne Soir, middle aged faux hippie.

Him: Easy on the karma there, M.

Me: Go hug an organic veggie while sucking down your Evian, rich boy.

 ps. I have been known to sign off IM with this.  Will have to rethink that. Veronica

When I was in the 8th grade I had to commit this to memory. When I taught school I made the kids memorize it as well, though that week they hated me outwardly, they all managed to do it. I hope they still recall it as I do, because for me it was the first time I understood what this country stood for. I was so young then and now though I am somewhat jaded, I still feel patriotic reading it. I am an immigrant and I am proud to be an American.

 

           Happy 4th America                 

Have you felt nirvana in the arms of another,
Falling so deeply, you mesh into one?

Have you seen the devil in the eyes of a lover,
seeing into your core, while they’re coming undone.

Did you notice the void, while flesh intertwined,
lost completely, yet knowing that he was far gone?

Did it take you forever, to spin out of control,
Body limp and exhausted and with no place to run?

Did you ever believe that he had beaten the demons?
Or were finally relieved when he took out the gun?

Copyright ©2008 Veronica Romm