What do you know - she didn't make it up.

Growing up, Mother used many words and phrases which I considered outlandish or comical. One such word was "epizootic." She actually always said "the epizootic." I never knew what the term meant. I figured it was something she made up. She made it sound as if it was the most terrible, awful illness ever. And, indeed it was.

Mother would say it with a stuffy nose: "I dat da epazhootic." I didn't know what it was or where the word came from, but I grew up terrified of it. And with good reason. I've had the epizootic and lived to tell the tale. By saying that, I mean I've had something terrible and awful. Now, Doug is afraid he is coming down with it.

I said "Please don't."

He said "oh, o.k., just because you said please."