We’ve had a lovely Holiday (vacation) in the village of Howden in East Yorkshire. Now it is time to say “goodbye” to the United Kingdom and return to our homeland. Katie, Liam, Elodie and Rosalie came to our “Oliday Ome” for lunch today. (My great granddaughter has a Yorkshire accent and drops the “H” in “Holiday Home.”) We said “goodbye” to all except Liam, who will drive us to Manchester tomorrow. Goodbyes are never easy. Is it even possible for a 3-year old little girl to understand such a concept as “goodbye?” Of course, it isn’t! Why, I confess that even I, an 80-year old, find it hard to grasp the concept.
Words and phrases evolve over the years and take on new meaning. In the 13th century, the word “nice” meant “silly, or “ignorant.” The word “egregious” now means “really bad,” but use to mean “remarkably good.” The word “goodbye” was first used in a 1573 letter written by an English scholar: “To requite your gallonde (gallon) of godbwyes, I regive you a pottle of howdyes.” “Godbwye” is a contraction for “God be with ye.” What does it mean to say: “God be with thee?” God be with thee, Katie, Liam, Elodie and Rosalie! God be with thee United Kingdom!
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