Slacks

Slacks.
I heard this word today at work and it made me think of the 70's and the Two Wild and Crazy Guys the Festrunk Brothers and their tight slacks that show off their bulge-ez. I laughed out loud.
Slacks. Who says that word anymore? Say it out loud. It's funny!
It kind of ranks up there with trousers, blouse and sport coat. Does anyone even make a sport coat anymore? I remember Haggar Sport Coat ads in the Sears catalog next to the Liesure Suits.
And there's another thing! Remember when you waited all year for the Christmas catalog to come out from Sears, JC Penny and Montgomery Wards? I believe they called it the "Wish Book." I would sit for hours and stare at all the wonders that were available via mail order and dream of opening all the gifts under my tree that Santa would get from these wonders of modern shopping. My sisters and I would circle and initial all the things we wanted in the catalog so that way Mom could tell Santa. By the end of it all, it was easier to say what we DIDN'T want.
But I digress. We were discussing slacks.
It is strange how some words in our language have gone by way of the Dodo. Words that come to mind are davenport (which is NOT just a town in Iowa but another word for sofa) and rumpus room (family room). What exactly IS a rumpus anyway? (Don't worry, I will google it.- and yet another example of a funny word.)
Other words that I find funny are the words that my Gramma used to say to replace swear words. Interesting phrases such as "Heaven's to Betsy!" and "Crimeinettly!" (which as I got older finally realized was Crime-in-Italy) and the ever popular "My stars and garters!"
Having two impressionable kids of my own, I have taken to substituting other words for swear words myself. I am partial to "What the schnitzel!?" I find it encompasses many situations and can be implied that I am still swearing without actually getting reprimanded by my mother for saying the actual word.
Unfortunately, there are many epithets that still escape my mouth without guarding my words and yes, I have said them in front of my kids. I will admit, I swear like a sailor. I need to curb my tongue.
The best example of learning to watch my mouth was when I was driving. When my daughter was 2 years old and some jerk cut me off, I promptly laid on the horn and said "HEY! YOU....(child in the seat behind you, keep it clean)... COWBOY!!" From the back seat I hear in an adorable little lispy voice "jackass."  Nice.