Word Creek, where words flow in many directions.

Word of the day:

concur- while not the most challenging word for an adult vocabulary, there is a reason why I love the word concur, and why I am choosing it as my first word of the day.  It has a little something to do with Leonardo DiCaprio in the 2002 film Catch Me If You Can, and a couple of precious third grade reading "tutees".

The definition, according to Random House Webster's School and Office Dictionary: 1. to agree. 2. to work together. 3. to occur at the same time.

How many words can you create from the letters in concur?

I came up with ten. (yes, I'm a word nerd)

The- "Do you concur?" scene in Catch Me If You Can (check it out on youtube) has DiCaprio's character passing himself off as a Doctor. He uses concur to make himself appear authentic, superior, and in control. 

The highlighting of this word stayed with me, and since watching the film, concur has become one of my favorite words.

Years later, while working as a reading tutor for third graders, I introduced concur to the kids. I thought it would be fun for the kids to learn this little gem, but I had no idea the effect it would have on them.

The following week, I was happily surprised at the excitement two of the girls showed over learning this new word. They had proudly shared their new knowledge with their teacher, and demonstrated to me how to use the word in a wonderfully silly manner, using rather high brow voices. 

I could see it gave them a real confidence boost and it's been a wonderful memory for me. 

Book recommendation of the day:

Hamlet's Dresser, Simon & Schuster 2002, by Bob Smith.

This memoir is sweet and sad, with a dusting of humor. 

In early childhood, Bob Smith became the chief caregiver to an extremely handicapped sister. It was a time when such children were not welcomed with an understanding heart by society.

Heartbreak over having such a child made Bob's father emotionally absent and saw his mother become an extremely depressed woman who couldn't cope without leaning on her young son.

At the age of ten, Shakespeare became a light in the darkness of Bob's challenging childhood. It eventually swept him into the theatre where he worked with stars such as Katherine Hepburn and Bert Lahr (the Cowardly Lion from Wizard of Oz).

In later years, because of his great love for his grandmother, Bob was drawn to senior citizens. He brought joy to these lonely seniors with the Shakespeare he had fallen in love with.

Thanks for visiting Word Creek.

Ciao for now,

Bonn