I’ve realized recently that I’m officially an old lady. Okay, I’m forty-one, but even so, I’ve developed some distinctly old lady traits. There’s just no denying it anymore.
Yesterday I vacuumed what appeared to be a spotless carpet just because I hadn’t done so for a few days.
I’ve gone to bed before nine quite a few times lately. And found myself wide awake at five-thirty.
I’ve been washing zip lock baggies from the grocery store deli so I can use them again.
I went to a Chinese restaurant not too long ago and stuck a number of packages of disposable chopsticks and soy sauce in my purse.
I have a pile of napkins and soda crackers from takeout in my kitchen, because why buy napkins or soda crackers when I can get them for free?
I go to the grocery store and grumble about prices. How much for lean ground beef?? And when did 80% become “lean?” Back in my day, it was 90%.
The truth is, I can live with most of these things. I just don’t care that much. So what if I take a few packets of soy sauce? That’s why they’re out there, and they certainly won’t go to waste. And I was tired, dammit, so I went to bed. That’s just the responsible thing to do.
That said, there is one old lady trait that’s really pissing me off. I mean, it’s not only making me feel old, but it exasperates me at the same time. I see it everywhere, and it even comes from people who I thought were my contemporaries.
It’s all these pop culture, slang acronyms.
First of all, I definitely show off my old lady ways when I text, as I use complete sentences with proper punctuation most of the time. None of this, “o i c u r m t,” and crap like that. Sure I laugh out loud or my ass off sometimes, but I’ve never YOLO’d or GR8’d anyone.
And I’m seeing these stupid things everywhere. Even in what are supposed to be news articles, or thoughtfully written essays and blogs.
And I don’t know what the hell they mean most of the time.
I can’t just let it go, however, so I end up looking them up, feeling stupid the entire time. Feeling like the old lady I apparently am, as I lament the demise of just writing the damn words out. Especially for people like me, who don’t know what the hell you’re trying to say. And seriously, it will only take you like five seconds longer to type the words. Maybe less if you’re efficient.
Here’s a few of the stumpers (and their definitions for the other old ladies out there) that have humiliated me in four letters or less:
- FTTB – For the Time Being (I was certain the “F” stood for something else)
- GAFL – Get a Fucking Life (I wish I could, but I’m spending too much time trying to understand what people are trying to say)
- IRL – In Real Life (In real life, people actually say what they mean)
- BBR – Burnt Beyond Repair (Okay, so is this a thing? Do they mean burned like,”Ooh, Steve, she totally burned you with that rejection!” Or do they mean burned like third degree? In which case, why is there an acronym for that???)
- FOMO – Fear of Missing Out (I saw this one recently, and apparently my fear of missing out on the knowledge of its meaning made me look it up. Dammit.)
- BM – Bite Me (Okay, you have to agree that it’s completely understandable to think this meant something completely different. Especially if you’ve ever had your grandmother talk to you about her BM. Or your BM. Or your grandfather’s BM)
- CYT – See You Tomorrow (Come on! If we’re going to do this, let’s at least use the correct letters! I mean, either it’s an acronym or it’s phonetic. You can’t mix the two and expect me to understand!)
- GTL – Gym Tan Laundry (Is this a thing? Or a new class they teach in high school now? Like, “kids, put these chores in proper order. No, no, NO, Jimmy! How many times do I have to tell you, tanning always comes AFTER gym?”)
- HBB – Hip Beyond Belief (Back in my day, it was hip to be square. Which makes me wonder… do kids really still use the word “hip?”)
- HHIS – Hanging Head In Shame (I’m certainly hanging mine. In shame. Because I care even a little about the fact I didn’t know what this meant.)
I admit I looked some of these up for the sole purpose of using them here, but it only helps further my point. Somewhere, some smarty-pants kid or hipster genius writer I’ll never be able to compete with is out there using these. They might even read this and laugh at the stale old lady complaining about “those darn kids” and their annoying slang.
I might agree with them, having once used (and occasionally still) terms like “tubular,” “wicked,” “like, totally,” and “gag me with a spoon.” Each generation has their own vernacular. One that I am certain is designed, in part, to annoy old ladies and parents.
That said, at least my generation knew how to spell. Even frumpy old ladies had an inkling of what we meant.
Part of the problem, however, is that I really don’t see myself as an old lady. In my head, I’m still young and vibrant. I don’t have any gray hair yet. My figure is still curvy, sans sags. My skin nearly wrinkle-free. I can still go out and get my drink on. I am intelligent, funny and entertaining. You would have fun if we went out together. Seriously.
Unless you’re twenty-two and want me to take some Molly and play laser tag. (That’s what kids do nowadays, right?) In which case, I’m out. I think you forgot I’m an old lady who stuffs ketchup packets in her purse. I can’t keep up with that kind of craziness. Plus, it’s past my bedtime.
Night, y’all. TTYL.
SWAK and a WEG.
(If you don’t know what those mean, I’m not going to tell you. Go look that shit up.)
Originally posted on Suburban Misfit Mom.