So.Buttons on Your Underpants

 I wanted to Trauma Dump so I can stop talking about it. I thought it would stop being a part of me. I thought it would stop being a part of my writing. But that will never be. 

That will never be. 

'But to say never say never you done said never twice...it's the questions, it's the questions boy...' (Common Sense) 

'Sew, buttons on your underpants.' 

My Mom always used to say that. I would sigh and say, 'So....' 

She would finish my sentence with, 'buttons on your underpants.' I still catch myself repeating her quips and phrases after all these years. 

Semantics. 

What a 'mother huncher'! 

That's another little phrase I picked up from my buddy's Dad. He would say 'mother huncher' instead of y'know....the big cuss word. 

He also called Giant Eagle, 'The Dirty Bird'. Ew. 

But that's what we are left with when people leave our lives in one way or another. Things they've said, things they've made, the ways they've reached out and changed us, whether we realize it or not. 

Semantics. That's my favorite thing. Etymology, words, words, words. 

Song lyrics, poems, novels, articles, writing. 

The word I want to focus on today is: Respect.

Respect

A feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements.

To admire (someone or something) deeply, as a result of their abilities, qualities, or achievements.

I have a pin I wear that says: They never write songs about the love that comes easy. 

Love and respect. They go together like peanut butter and jelly?

Jelly

 a sweet, clear, semisolid spread or preserve made from fruit juice and sugar boiled to a thick consistency.

Jelly

a slang term meaning 'totally lime green jealous'. 

So maybe love and respect get mixed up like peanut butter and jelly. Mixed up like semantics, like definitions, like love songs. We love them but it's hard sometimes to find the respect for them. Have you ever heard a song that you used to know like an old lover? Do you change the station? I bet you still know every word to that song, the melody, the name of the band. 

Maybe you have a snapshot memory of the lover that once was respected. They wrote a song about that one. 

They don't write songs about the love that comes easy. 

The hard part about love is sticking around when we've lost the respect. 

Respect is more important than love. 

Respect and love. Respect must always come first or else you don't get the love portion of the sandwich. 

You might get peanut butter and lime green 'jelly'. Instead of peanut butter and a sweet clear semisolid spread or preserve made from fruit juice and sugar boiled to a thick consistency.  

So *sew*

buttons on your underpants. 

That's how I ended up here in this one life I have! 

Sounds so simple. 

Write?  

oh. 

Left? 

Riiiiiight. 

I'm confused two.  

But it just made cents a second ago.

Sew did I.  

Tick.  

Don't worry. That's just the time.