SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS WORDPLAY


by Marcia Singer • lovearts@att.net


SANTA ROSA, CA. ~ [soop- er-cal-ee-frah-jill-is-tick-ex- pee-al-ee-doe-shuss] No, you won’t find this word in any dic- tionary. But fans of Julie An- drews recognize it instantly as a hit from the musical, “Mary Poppins.” The song tells the story of a lad who has trouble expressing himself, trouble speaking up for himself in front of an embarrassed, disapprov- ing dad. So the boy does some- thing to bolster his self esteem and lessen his social anxiety: he learns a really big word --“the biggest word you ever heard.” His effort is rewarded.


His


worldwide travels endear him to those he meets. He becomes a popular tea time companion, using his special word either to impress and sound “preco- cious,” or as a kind of incanta- tion to attract good times. He is far happier, now. Supercalifragilisticexpialido-


cious is a long word!! It took me some time to learn it, and requires patience to teach it to residents of the senior and nursing communities I tend. I find that this particular learning exercise is fun, endearing us to one another, as we imagine ourselves overcoming odds. Speaking of overcoming odds, did you catch any of “Dancing With the Stars” this season? What brought me back to watch was my amazement and stunned appreciation of actor/athlete and now dancer, Amy Purdy, and of course her creative, patient and support- ive partner, Derek Hough. At age 19, Amy contracted a form


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of meningitis, leading to sep- tic shock. Besides losing vi- tal organs, both her legs were amputated below the knees to help save her life. However, just seven months after the am- putation, wearing prosthetic legs, Amy started snowboard- ing! She even came in third place in a contest at Mam- moth Mountain after a year. The Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) began to


assist her to com-


pete further, and today, she even has her own non-profit, Adaptive Action Sports, affili- ated with Disabled Sports, USA. What an inspir- ing and humbling experience to watch this talented and courageous woman become an exquisite, outrageously skilled dancer?! Being a singer, I’m remind-


ed of Frank Sinatra’s hit song, “High Hopes,” in which


an ant


you or I-- overcome great odds by having a goal, and sticking with it –no matter what. So I ask, what is awaiting your at- tention --and mine?


What


have we always want- ed to achieve? What new expe- rience beckons? What dream is ready to be born, or seed planted, or har- vested ?


An ant moved a rub-


and a


by ram, and association ---


ber tree plant. A ram poked a giant hole in a dam. A sad English boy learned a big word and had the courage to speak it out loud, boosting his self es- teem. Dancer Derek Hough discovered he could design winning choreographies for a celebrity dancer without legs. What will you or I choose to do? Let me know! Shine deLight, Marcia


UPBEAT TIMES • June 2014 • 21 Weird Facts & Fun Trivia -9


Although a flashlight is a relatively simple device, its invention did not occur until the late 19th century be- cause it depended upon the earlier invention of the elec- tric battery and electric light. Conrad Hubert received a US patent in 1903 , number 737,107 issued August 26, for a flashlight with an on/


off switch in the now familiar cylindrical casing containing lamp and batteries.


Michael Wood, University of California, Berkeley MBA 79, is the founder, CEO, president, and chairman of LeapFrog Enterprises. Wood started the company in 1995 after developing the patented Phonics Letters and Phonics Desk products.


UPBEAT TIMES • June 2014 • 21


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