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Showing posts from June, 2021

Once in a Lifetime

As an interpreter, I think about language a lot – about WORDS.   And the phrase I have been pondering for about a week is this:   ONCE IN A LIFETIME. People often use it to describe big, grand, amazing things.   ·          “Visiting the Grand Canyon – oh, that is a once in a lifetime experience!” ·          “Skydiving?   A total once in a lifetime experience!”   ·          “Front row tickets to a Lady Gaga concert?   Once in a lifetime, man!” ·          “A trip to Iceland to see the Northern Lights – wow, a once in a lifetime experience!!” The use of that phrase relating to positive events like those rubs me the wrong way.   Because here is the thing – if you invest your money and time in an experience or event, and it is fabulous and you love it – THEN DO IT AGAIN !!!!   Jumping on an in-ground trampoline in a park in Iceland?  NOT ONCE IN A LIFETIME! When I first started thinking about this, I realized how privileged my take on this sounds.   Things that people refer to as