My vocabulary has been expanded. This increase in knowledge happened on a recent road trip with my 17-year-old grandson. I was invited to join this new college freshman and his mother on a two-day drive to his chosen college. We rented a large SUV as we had all the necessities for college in the back: extra-long bedding, pillows, computers, clothing for a climate colder than his native North Carolina weather, and musical instruments and paraphernalia as he is going to major in music.
There was lots of conversation as we rotated drivers, stopped for road trip snacks, and followed the phone map towards our destination. This is a sampling of what I learned. I do not think that I will be found using these terms, but they are a wonderful window into a new world. Here they are.
Extra: Of course, I know what extra means as in ‘give me an extra scoop of ice cream.’ But now people and things can be extra. At one stop we passed a young man who had so many tattoos on his arms, curling up his neck towards his face, and reaching from his knees down to his shoes that unadorned skin was hardly visible. When we climbed back in the car the teenage comment on him was that this inking of his body was ‘extra.’ I think this extension of the word is wonderful.
Bougie: When I first heard this at least I understood its origins. It is from bourgeoisie a word and concept first promulgated by Karl Marx and it was not very flattering. It meant those who were possessed with material things and the flaunting of them. In Moliere’s plays in 17th century France, he made fun of this class of people who tried to ape the ways of the upper class but missed the mark to his audience’s amusement. While today the term once again comments unfavorably on those who are trying to impress with material things, I will bet that only a handful of the users of this term even have a glimmer of its roots.
Basic: As we pulled into a restaurant parking lot for dinner, a young girl marched in front of us flipping her long hair out of her eyes in a dramatic gesture. She had on UGG boots despite the weather and was sporting a cup of expensive coffee. ‘Basic white girl’ my grandson murmured, and it was not a compliment. He meant unoriginal, unexceptional, and mainstream. Another grandson said a basic girl posted lots of selfies online and would have a ‘live, laugh, love’ poster on her bedroom wall. I am glad I am too old to be basic.
Every generation has its invented new language. I can remember when cool and bitchen’ and groovy were the latest terms embraced by my generation. Any adult using these terms looked silly, so I plan on not employing any of my newly learned vocabulary. However, I can think it, especially my favorite --- ‘extra.’ This recently came to mind when I saw a woman my age who had vigorously dyed coal-black hair, and was wearing more gold jewelry than Queen Nefertiti. Although she did not know it, she was definitely extra.