August 23 2008: Syphilis
Filed under Body & Family & Media
My brother goes through phases where he becomes attached to a particular word, and will try to steer every conversation he has so that he can use the word in it. It’s innocent enough when he’s obsessed with words like “precisely” and “immunise”, but when his new favourite word is “syphilis”, his conversations take a startling turn. I kid you not, his new favourite word is syphilis.
I have to admit that I started this obsession of his, as he’s been sitting with me through my gradual re-viewings of each season of Buffy. We were watching “Pangs”, the episode where Xander shows symptoms of syphilis, smallpox, measles, and other lovely diseases when a Native American spirit is let loose from a spell that had kept it captive. “Why am I always the one that gets syphilis or sleeps with demons and bug women!” Xander says petulantly (slight paraphrasing).
My brother’s eyes light up. Syphilis! A new word! “What does syphilis mean?” he asks.
“It’s when you have sex with someone with the disease without using appropriate protection, and you catch a venereal disease off them. Your penis grows spots, turns black, and falls off. That’s why condoms are so important,” I reply. A bit of exaggeration in the promotion of safe, condom-sheathed, sex never goes wrong right?
My explanation hasn’t been a deterrent thus far however, as my brother has been going around saying “Syphilis!” at random intervals, relishing the way it rolls off his tongue. Take last night for example. We’re outside in the driveway, unloadng groceries from the car. “I have syphilis!” he proclaims loudly, as the whole neighborhood walks past. They gape. He blushes. I laugh.
Nicely done. Very subtle.
That’s hilarious.
I can only imagine the kinds of things I said when I was younger… though I don’t think I’ve ever said that.
Rafia on August 23 2008 #
LMAO
Whenever I see the word syphilis, I immediately think of composers. Half of them had it. :P
Regina on August 23 2008 #
LOL!
Hopefully the next word won’t be something STD related so that the neighbors won’t think he’s been doing it. =P
Merinn on August 23 2008 #
I wonder how old your brother is.
Nathan on August 23 2008 #
Haha, oh, man. Your brother sounds AWESOME! I wish I had cool stories like that to tell about my own childhood, but alas, I was a very boring little girl :/.
Allee on August 23 2008 #
Oh dear. At least he’s improving his vocabulary. :P
Kycoo on August 23 2008 #
Haha how old is he again? 12?
Well, at least he’s learning a few new things… a new word and the importance of condoms :D
Felisa on August 23 2008 #
Hahaha cute! I too wonder how old your brother is! I mean, it’s great that he’s showing interest in vocab, but out of all words why syphilis?!
LOL, this post put a smile on my face. =D
Ria Rosa on August 23 2008 #
ROFLMAO.
I have “words of the moment” but I must admit that a sexually transmitted disease has never been one of them. :P
Amber on August 24 2008 #
This made me laugh so hard, you can’t believe it! I spit my gum out when I laughed!
I can completely picture something like this happening in my family, despite the youngest kid being twenty years old.
Munin on August 24 2008 #