Annapolis Rocks, MD
“Where’s your car, Mike?”
Surveying a vast parking lot my father pointed and answered in his native Mississippian, “Over yonder.”
“OVER YONDER!?” the unnamed engineer laughed with derision. “OVER YONDER!” He shouted between laughs containing a hint of malice.
My father did not suffer fools lightly. However, he had recently become a Marylander and was hurt by the laughter. It was the only time my father admitted he was hurt. A depression child and World War II Vet, most slights and digs rolled right off.
Over Yonder has stuck with me these 30-40 years “like white on rice” and I rarely say these beautiful words - a mistake. We need more “Over Yonder” – especially in a pandemic.
Imagine a place, Over Yonder. Not here, not there, but Over Yonder. Sounds wonderful and deserves capitalization. Who wouldn’t want to go Over Yonder?
“Where you goin’?”
“Over Yonder.”
“Oh, can I come with you!?”
“Uh-huh.”
Sounds like the beginning of a great day. I am not sure where Over Yonder is, but that is half the fun. I do know Over Yonder is your first left after you go “Over the Rainbow.” Maybe it is a right… either way:
Skies are blue
And the dream that you dare to dream really do come true
Pirates knew Over Yonder. They would say, “OY,” a Piratian abbreviation for Over Yonder.
“OY matey, thar she blows!” Loosely translating as “Dude, Over Yonder is a ship to blunder!”
My father kept issues of Reader’s Digest his car. They came in handy as he waited to pick me up or waited as my mother shopped. Those Reader’s Digest contained a regular column “Towards More Picturesque Speech.” What is more picturesque than Over Yonder?
February 15 would have been my Fathers 98th birthday. RIP Dad.
How about you? What is your Picturesque Speech? Share a Story!
Taste the Food – 2nd Helping
Over The Rainbow - Judy Garland
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