Words from a Reader

The “Writing Life Stories” e-mails I receive are such treasures. As soon as I see there is one in my inbox, I read it immediately. I look forward to them and never know how they will touch me. They can be interesting, informative, humorous, and/or touching.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Who is on your A-list? Why?

Do you hate the newly coined word “trending” as much as I do? My blood pressure rises when I open a page on my computer and the sidebar has a block of what is “Trending Now.”
And it gets worse when I see Who or What is “trending now.”

Trending Now

What is the definition of trending? Is that another way of saying this is what the dumbed- down American public is obsessed with today? When have you seen someone of substance on the “trending” list? Is that the goal of our culture – to be on the “trending list?”

What must one do to get on the “trending list?” Perhaps one would first need to get on the A-List? What is the A-list and is there a B, C. D, all the way down to XYZ list? Who selects the members of these lists? What are the criteria?

All of this reminds me of an experience I had one summer just after sixth grade. I was sought after by several classmates, girls who wanted to come to the farm and ride my horse and enjoy country life. We had a great time. The mothers of the girls drove them about 15 miles one way so they could come and spend the day with me.

I entered junior high school in the fall as did my friends who clustered with others in their little cliques, but I was not included. Was I “trending” in the summer, but when autumn came and school began, I dropped off the list? Through no fault of my own, did I suddenly drop down to E or F or even G on the “trending” list?

That was when I learned to seek friends with more substance. I had few real friends in high school, but the ones I did have were solid gold. My dear friend, Jeannine, is someone who will always have a special place in my heart. I introduced her to her future husband Jerry. She asked me to be her maid of honor at her wedding a year later. Our friendship lasted all her life. Jeannine met the criteria for my A-List.
Do you have an A-List? What are your criteria for your A-list?
If you were choosing, who would you place on the “trending now” list?

4 comments:

  1. Trending drives me crazy too Glenda. We lived out of the country for 10 years and when we came back, we had to learn a lot of new words. Problems were called issues. Smart business people became visionaries. And here I am worried that the new generation is getting away from the language by texting. What will they think of next.
    Sam

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  2. Your A-list comments hit home. Just for fun I made a list and found Husband, Family, 4 Junior High School friends I'm still tied to, neighbor friends and writer friends who are unreplaceable. I've learned to hold on tight to these people...and know I married my best friend. None of my A-list people can be called "Trend Listers." Thanks for the thought.
    Nancy Purcell

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  3. I don't know that I have an A list per Se. I have family and friends with whom I keep in touch through facebook and other means. I was not very popular in school, I guess, because of my visual impairment. I had a few friends from time to time, but I've since lost touch with them. I think this whole trend list business is ridiculous.
    Abbie Johnson Taylor, Author of We Shall Overcome
    http://abbiescorneroftheworld.blogspot.com
    http://www.abbiejohnsontaylor.com

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  4. Hi Sam,Nancy, and Abbie,
    Thanks for your comments. It is very funny to me how a word becomes popular by the media and some people feel they have to use those "new" fake words.
    I suppose, as a writer, I should embrace all words. In the future, an author might feel he must use the word "trending" when writing about this time in history.
    But who actually uses these words?
    I never hear them in normal conversation.

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