Signage

I love to look for interesting use of words, odd combinations, oxymorons and I am a stickler for correct word spelling and pronunciation.

I admit in elementary school to taking out the largest books I could find on Library Day - and once getting home to find out upon finally looking at the titles, that I had checked out two of the same book based on the thickness alone. I have since become overly focused on words and content as a result.

Just recently I have been horrified to find that I have spelled and pronounced a word incorrectly all my life. It is so difficult now for me to correctly talk about or write the Gershwin composition "Rhapsody in blue" when for 50 years or so I was convinced the word was "Rhaphsody". I don't know why something like this bothers me so, but it is like being followed around by someone scratching their nails on a chalkboard when I think of it. All is not right with the world.

I walk around town daily and I love to read the signs put up announcing events or just the names of shops, and the juxtaposition of these words. The other day I saw that a new after school program with the big sign "KIDS AFTER SCHOOL" had opened its doors right next to a shop selling items one might expect to come across at Hogwart's, named "HEX". So one storefront filled with felt boards and phonetic posters, desks and AV materials stands next to the storefront with, to name a few items, candles, voodoo dolls, and books of spells. Interesting choice of locations for both establishments.

Also saw a clever upcoming event poster for "Churchapaloosa" and a bumper sticker stating "What if the hokey pokey really IS what its all about?" I imagine people who write these are similar to those who also write greeting cards and T-shirt slogans, spending hours to find the exact fit of words to item in a sort of "Mad Men" minimalist style.

However, my all time favorite signage occurred by pure geographic chance. It is on a street in the metrowest area of Massachusetts and at the end of that street, there are two signs placed one directly above the other announcing "BLIND DRIVEWAY" - "DEAF CHILD". I wonder if the Department of Public Works employee who put those signs there as part of his list of jobs for the town, thought anything of it.

I would never be able to excel at such wordplay, but I sure do enjoy it, and for now, I guess I will sign off.