| A Word Edgewise
by Mary Joe Clendenin |
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A black cat ran across our yard this morning, and I wondered if I was in for a bad day. It's funny how old superstitions heard many years ago linger in some attic of the memory ready to spring out on an instant notice--especially when I have so much trouble remembering what I need to remember.
Maybe adults of my childhood days were more superstitious than people of today. Could it be efforts to explain unknown causes? I don't know the reason, but I do know that many sayings about happenings even changed plans of people then--and perhaps now that I don't know about. But if a black cat crosses your path, do you choose another direction? I'll wager the thought crosses your mind.
Dropping a knife when setting the table or drying dishes was a sure sign that a man was coming, a fork indicated woman company and a spoon meant children. I should have remembered the other day when I asked Ray to hand me his pocket knife that handing it open would lead to a quarrel of sharp words. They were not said then and I hope he's not saving them to utter later.
Breaking a mirror just indicated seven years of bad luck, or that you would be an old maid or bachelor if you were not married. Wonder how that got started? Even more strange, though not so well-know in this area was: mirrors and pictures covered with glass were to be covered when a corpse lies in state at home--to prevent the spirit from seeing itself.
I can remember counting crows when we saw them on the way to or from school, as they stole pecans. We would say, "One crow sorrow, Two crows joy, Three crows a letter, Four crows a boy." Of course, we searched for that fourth one.
When we had contest to see who could make the ugliest faces, Mrs. Dawson would warn us not to cross our eyes or they would stay that way. It's a wonder we ever grew up normal with all the jinxes in our way.
Perhaps superstitions have beginnings when things go wrong, or right, and someone starts hunting for the unexplainable reason. A coincidence occurred that can be blamed; for example, a swarm of bees leaves home at the same time a person in the family dies. It was a very common belief at one time, that bees had to be informed of a family death or they would swarm and leave. Some housewives hung something black on the hive while humming a doleful tune. Other family members might choose to inform them by tapping gently on the hive and saying, quietly that so-and-so died. The belief was so prevalent that John Greenleaf Whittier wrote a poem, "Telling the Bees."
An itchy palm means money is coming, that is, if it is the right hand. If the left hand itches, money is slipping away. No wonder my left hand has itched all these years. Wish I had known earlier that rubbing the itch on wood would break the spell.
Of course we know that finding a horse shoe will bring good luck, same as a rabbit foot--even if it didn't help the rabbit or horse to loose it. It might be helpful to know that when you nail that horse shoe over the door to make the luck last you must have the open end up or the luck will spill out.
It just occurred to me that if I knew enough of these wise sayings I could keep things running without so much worry--but that might be like the basketball player who will never wash his socks because those same dirty socks have brought him good luck in winning games. Of course, they stink so bad his friends won't come near. I just have to make some choices.: I can hang garlic around the house to keep out vampires and other evil spirits, or I can leave off the garlic and invite friends in. Guess I'll risk the vampires and invite the friends.
A book called Lightning Never Strikes Twice (If You Own a Feather Bed) helped me recall some old sayings, others just crept in unbidden.