Yellow-Bellied Sap Sucker

The American public by-and-large have lost their creativity. In times past, when one person was upset with another person they would utter colorful phrases and epitaphs. In today's society, the f-word is more than likely involved in verbal confrontations.

In colonial times, one man might have insulted another by calling him the heel of a hyena or the jaw of a jackal. Cowardice was derided with yellow-bellied sap sucker.

Even in my youth, euphemisms used in anger were mild compared to what is heard these days. I remember when saying, "Your mama wears army boots," was a drastic insult. Of  course, that was in a time before women were allowed in the military beyond medical positions.

There was a time when a man would not curse in front of a lady--and some gentlemen adhere to that. More often than not, though, any female within ear shot is not only likely to hear cursing, but be the object of the curse. And let's not leave the women out of it--some of them could turn a preacher blue in the face.

It takes hardly one brain cell to utter the f-word; it takes many more to think up a colorful insult. Maybe we've just become lazy. Whatever the reason for the trend, I hope we see a reversal in the near future.

A Cathartic Experience--The A to Z Blogging Challenge

A cathartic experience is an experience of cleansing or purging. In the case of blogging, I believe the catharsis will be one of cleaning out dust webs in my mind and allowing creative rivulets to have their way.

I'm fairly certain I'm not the only writer who has become mired in the thick, tenacious muck of routine. Even freelance writing, as un-routine as it can be at times can still find the mind following the same tire tracks day in and day out.

The A to Z Blogging Challenge offers me a glimpse down as many paths as there are letters in the alphabet. Not one is less important than another. To leave any of the paths unexplored seems a waste of opportunity.

The opportunity is not just one of thinking and writing differently, but also to expose myself to other people's thoughts and meanderings. I'm going to explore the blogs of others during this challenge and open my thoughts to possibilities.

Spring is an opportune time for a mind catharsis.