Normal | HCL

I am already tired of the new phrase, “the new normal.” I have seen it on blogs, in stories and in print and it’s four days into 2010. Perhaps I have lived a unique and bizarre life but I haven’t known any existence that even remotely resembled normal. To save you a trip, according to Merriam-Webster normal means among other things, the following:

2 a : according with, constituting, or not deviating from a norm, rule, or principle

b : conforming to a type, standard, or regular pattern
3 : occurring naturally
4 a : of, relating to, or characterized by average intelligence or development

b : free from mental disorder

I grew up in the 80s, 90s and now through the naughts. The 80s were nothing close to normal, in retrospect, neither were the 90s; and the last 10 years have been rather chaotic. Throw the Navy life into my mix and it’s quite a cocktail. If writers intend to use normal as a synonym for stable, then well that’s a different story. But I don’t want to hear new normal again unless someone can eloquently and definitively define the old normal. Just don’t make me where socks over my pants.

And while I am eliminating words, check out Laurie’s blog on things she is eliminating from her vocabulary. Had me laughing out loud.

At least I am free from a mental disorder. I think.

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