Most parents strive to name their children something unique and yet not entirely alienating — which means striking a balance between trends and trailblazing. My name is Lauren. True, it’s not so bad as far as names go. Lauren is Latin for “of Laurentum,” or “from the place of the laurel leaves” and, indeed, I am more prone to rolling in foliage than several non-Laurens in my acquaintance. Yet, Lauren may as well be Latin for “born in the mid- to late-1980s. Read More...
Who isn’t impatient every now and again? It’s hard not to be. You’re late for work, and your kid is having a casual conversation with their socks as time ticks by. Here comes the impatience. You’re stuck behind a slow driver in the fast lane. Yup, feeling impatient. You made reservations for a very rare date night, but your partner isn’t out of the shower yet. Impatience strikes again. These situations are largely unavoidable. Read More...
For about six years in the 1990s, the intensifier “so” — as in “I’m sooooo over it” — belonged solely to women. It was a short chapter in the history of American linguistics, but worth revisiting. In 1994, Monica, Rachel, and Phoebe, the three female leads on the Friends cast, were scripted to use the term “so” to modify nearly half of their adjectives. The women of the Friends cast were so glad, so jealous, and so sorry. Read More...
