Here’s a fun fact: there are 171,146 words in the English language. I’m an accomplished blogger and author so my command of the English language is high.
Every once in awhile, I’ll add a word or phrase to my lexicon. Then to cement it, I’ll use it constantly.
Sometimes, I overuse it, much to the annoyance of my friends, family and co-workers.
I overused one particular phrase so much my friends turned it into a drinking game without my knowledge.
That phrase, you ask?
“That was EPIC!” Seriously, of all the words I could choose from I would gravitate to those.
The Avengers Movie Screening
My friend, Cindy, gifted me a Blu-Ray DVD of The Avengers. At this point in my life I was still wanting to be sociable, drinking and hosting parties.
The space I had in Issaquah was fantastic. The “great room” of the 3rd floor apartment was 27 feet by 10 feet with panoramic views of the I-90 valley corridor.
I invited my friends and family over for an Avengers movie screening. I decorated the place like a movie theater complete with red carpet beginning, 9 foot panoramic poster of the Avengers, movie decals, and more. For the complete experience, I added fresh popcorn, soda, alcoholic drinks, and plenty of comfy seating.
All I needed was my friends!
One of my friends is very playful, and mischievous. Her name is Alicia. She would eventually be sold out as the mastermind behind this “game” she created.
I excused myself to use the restroom. In that time, the ground rules were set for the game. Any time I used the phrase, “that was epic” or even just the word, “epic”, everyone took a drink.
We settled down to watch the movie that I had already seen twice in the theaters. I wanted to be courteous to the first viewers so I sat quiet until after an epic scene happened. Then I would let out an “that was epic”.
Wait A Minute …
I wasn’t looking at my big screen TV when I said, “So epic”. I noticed everyone, even my friends that don’t drink, take a sip.
Wait a minute, I thought …
For all the drinking games I’ve suggested and we’ve done over the years, did someone make a drinking game out of me? I decided then and there to test it!
THAT was epic, I exclaimed in a mundane scene. Everyone still complied with Alicia’s game.
OH MY GOD, you made a drinking game out of me, I whine!
Everyone in the room burst out laughing – that confirmed it. I knew then and there I had overused the phrase to my friends’ annoyance. I slummed into my couch, mentally pouting while finishing my drink.
After the movie, and during clean up, I asked my sister if I truly did overuse the word or the phrase. She smiled, “Yes, you did. If every event carried that use of THAT was epic – then nothing is epic.”
HURMPH. You truly wanna know what’s “epic”? The fact my word choice, and yours truly was the centerpiece of a drinking game.
Now that?
THAT was epic!
Deuces. ‘los
los, Fil-Am Renaissance Man 