Years ago I taught visually impaired kids in London, Canada.  My office was in Catholic Central High School.

I’d be heading home sometime after 4:00, just as Randy was coming on shift.  He was one of the school’s custodians.  Maybe he still is.

Somehow Randy and I started the ritual of “The Word of the Day”.  He would ask what the word was and something would come into my head.  After some meandering visit with “Gregarious” or “Hypothetical”, I’d end our conversation with …

And that, Randy, is the word of the day

I’m smiling now as I remember those good times.  This morning there was a resurrection, this time with me asking the question.  Maybe in the future I’ll get into the rhythm of someone asking me, day after day.

This morning I walked into Panos on Langemunt and asked Dominique, the manager.  “Sun” was her immediate response.  What a bright answer.

Then my eyes turned to Eva, a young employee.  She looked uncomfortable for a few seconds and then “Food” came out of her mouth.  Cool.  That’s a much needed word.

“What about you?” asked Dominique.  I heard “Love” escape my lips.  The best word in the history of the world, I’d say.  Hours later, I wish something unusual had come to me … like “Outrageous”.  Next time.

On to Izy Coffee, fortified with the same question.  Jamie was the barista: “Plausible”.  And then another: “Placebo”.  I could tell that he really finds both of those interesting, worthy of reflection.  “Plausible” especially gets me thinking.  I wonder about “Implausible”, and how to shift from something unlikely to something that actually happens.

Geert, a fellow customer, is next.  “Stoofvlees”.  Translation: Flemish beef stew, a classic Belgian dish. A yummy choice.

At the table beside Geert sat a man unknown to me.  I asked him.  “Hartverscheurend”.  Jamie helped me with that one an hour later when I returned to Izy.  It means “heartbreaking”. Such a sad choice for today’s word.

***

And there we have it, ladies and gentlemen

And if I may …

What is your word for this fine Saturday?