[Paisleychick-lj] getting smarter and being stupid

[Beatrice M's blog]

[![][1]][2]   
[umbrella][3]   
Originally uploaded by [gin_able][4]. 

Language is a funny thing. I've been having these "ah hah" moments lately and I feel so incredibly stupid when I do. Umbrella in _castelaño_ is _paragua_ = "for water". Just like parasol is the umbrella "for sun". Just like in French _parapluie_ is "for rain". Sometimes words aren't just letters put together. Yesterday it clicked that Puerto Rico means rich port. And forgive me, but I recently just understood the joke of "time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana. For years that one had me scratching my head wondering why it was funny. It wasn't until reading the wikipedia article on [Garden Path Sentences][5] that it clicked in my head. Kragen loves that moment of feeling stupid because it means that he's learning and getting smarter. I hate that feeling because it means I've been stupid for a long time. I don't like feeling stupid, or realizing that I should have known something a long time ago. But, becoming smarter is a good thing. This process is interesting, scary, exciting and frustrating but good overall. I like pushing my brain and learning new things, but I don't like coming face to face with my stupidity. I just don't think there's anyway around that.  


   [1]: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/27/57008144_c28961be26_m.jpg
   [2]: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ginable/57008144/ (photo sharing)
   [3]: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ginable/57008144/
   [4]: http://www.flickr.com/people/ginable/
   [5]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_Path_Sentence

URL: http://paisleychick.livejournal.com/308244.html