In a message dated 6/26/2006 8:22:15 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
Question? "Mr. Mike". Its an expression that struck as new to
me in Louisiana, although I may have run into it before. It appeared to
be used mostly by younger folks as a sign of both affection and respect for
leaders... not necessarily managers, supervisors and bosses, but folks who
knew their stuff.
In our storefront in Lake Charles, LA, the Long Term Recovery team
- who came from all over the country -- once tried to dissect the
affectionate/respectful form of address "Miss Melissa" and "Mr. Tim." One
guy (from Houston) said that he grew up using it - it was the middle ground for
someone with whom you are closely associated, but still need some formality.
It's neither too familiar, nor too stuffy. It sounded much better coming
from someone with a Southern/Texan accent, though.
I'm home now. The mornings are cool. The daylight lingers on
the horizon until its absence signals the time to send the dogs out one
last time and close down the house for the night. Its good to be
home.
Glad to hear that you have taken a breather from FEMAland and are
enjoying a more normal life. Simple pleasures. Colleagues still in NOLA tell me
that a large demobilization is gearing up for the end of July sometime ... about
a month earlier than anticipated. Not sure what that will do to the idea of
getting the public schools up and running for September.
I returned home at the end of April - it feels like a century ago. A week
later I had a bicycling accident and have been recuperating from surgery on
various broken bones in my arm for the past 2 months. (Things are looking
up - I can at last type again, all the hardware has been taken off, and I should
be fine in a couple of months). But, in spite of the mishap, the comfort of
being at home with family and friends and smells of home-brewed morning coffee
can't be beat.
Welcome home, John.
Julip