Thursday, January 04, 2007

A Band-Aid and A Kleenex

My family is always working on some kind of puzzle or game together. Remember my post from some time ago about the objects containing first names? (That's a nice rug in front of your door, Matt! DOOR MAT) When some of we cousins don't see each other except for maybe twice a year, several of us attempt to remember our new contributions for several months until we can add our thought to the family list.

Well, we have another "puzzle" to which we constantly return. I don't know for sure who brought it up years ago, but I think it was Uncle Roger. His idea: to make a list of everyday items that are generally referred to by a brand name instead of a general name. Because the items in the title of this post are probably the two most common, my brother and I usually call this the Band-Aid Game or the Kleenex Principle.
Examples:
Band-Aid instead of Adhesive Bandage
Kleenex instead of Facial Tissue

I realize these tendencies can vary from family to family and from region to region. For instance, even though most people from central Illinois say the term "pop" and southern Illinois citizens usually say "soda", I know many in the south use the term "Coke" (brand name) for the general "carbonated soft drink." (Would you like a Coke? Yes. What kind? A Sprite.)

My brother has now taken this list to the students in his physics, chemistry and math classes, and they are trying to add to it. It's interesting how different generations think of different answers. I thought we could focus on these for a few days and make a list of our own.

I think I'll keep track of mine on a Post-it Note. ;)

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi "Mitchell"!! Have been up all night reading your blogs....neat!!I especially liked the one about grandma and her flowers!! That is one of my favorite memories of her!! I remember when we were kids, we never knew what to expect when we went to grandma's house!! Roger and us were usually her "guinea pigs" on which she'd try something new. I remember one time when we got there, she had Roger sitting in the kitchen (up at the farm, outside of Farmington) on a chair with plastic bags around his shoulders. She applied mashed tomatoes all over his face!! She said it was good for acne!! Guess what!?!? Roger was one of the first to have a "fruit-acid peel" like they give nowdays in salons for around $200.00!! Only difference is... this happened back in about 1965 or so!!! I'd say grandma was waaay before her time!!!! Too bad we didn't take advantage of her recipes for homemade remedies, (and she had a lot!!) we'd be millionaires!! anyway, my favorite memories are of walking with her, hand in hand, around all her flower beds and listening to her describe each and every plant, and how to take care of it. She knew all about where each one came from, what their medicinal qualities were and how to use them. I talk to grandma now every time I go out in my garden. It's a good place to go whenever I'm confused, or burdened. Between the two of us. we get the weeding done, both in the flowers and in my mind. Remember how she got us to shell peas?? It would be a nice idea if we could all write down all our memories of grandma and grandpa and put them in a book for everyone, what do you think??? I've been thinking about doing something like that for Bill's parents' side for a long time, and why not the Stremmel side??? Anyway....just a thought....maybe I will work on it this year..hmm. I'm glad you found out what was wrong with your health, though I'm not surprised!! Grandmas always had "borderline" blood sugars, there's diabetes in both sides of your dad's family, the Stremmels and the Webbs. Sheila and I both have type II Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes, and I'm sure some of the other cousins have problems, or will have.So you aren't alone!!! I have to go ...the Sears guy is here to fix my refridgerator!! Good luck!! and keep up the blogging ....I like to read it!! Love, your cousin Teresa
P.S. I like the one about Sacred Harp singing too!! Sounds fantastic!!!

Anonymous said...

oh, bye the way...how about Tylenol? Or "Lazyboy" for recliner?
"Wet One" for baby wipes
"Palm Pilot" for handheld PDA
"Day Runner" for personal organizer
"Levi's" instead of blue jeans
"Vaseline" for petroleum jelly
"Xerox" instead of copy machine
"Q-Tips" for cotton swabs
I'll think up some more while the guy is working on the 'fridge!! Bye!! Teresa

Chris Crouse said...

"Skil Saw" instead of Circular Saw

Dani said...

i-pod instead of mp3.

I am a "Coke" person, and the worst part of going to Boston, was getting a coke instead of being able to tell her that the sort of coke that I wanted was a "Dr. Pepper."

Elizabeth said...

white-out
match-box cars
whirlpool (anything from dishwashers to washing machines, and bathtubs)
chap-stick
John Deer (tractors)

oh the list goes on and on. What fun!

strem said...

Cousin Teresa, Thanks for checking in and sharing your throughts. We'll definitely have to follow up on that book about memories with Grandma and Grandpa.

You've come up with some great ones for this puzzle... especially Q-tip and Vaseline. I don't know anyone who doesn't use them. Now, I've never used Levi's and Day Runner like that, but I know A LOT of people who do. Thanks for writing!

strem said...

Chris: My cousins are great with the tool names - but I'm not very familiar - especially in knowing that the brand names aren't the general names. This is a great one that you've thought of!

strem said...

Dani, your story cracks me up. Your mention of i-pods does the same. My brother and I spoke of this a few weeks ago. When our family first started this, no one had i-pods. So, when Aaron took this to his classes, this is one of the first things the students thought of that we never mentioned. See what I mean about the generations?

strem said...

I had NO IDEA that "Magic Marker" was a brand name. Then again, I always did wonder what about them was magic. WOW!

strem said...

Elizabeth, chapstick and white-out are especially good! You'd probably get some arguments about the John Deere situation...with Allis-Chalmers, Caterpillar, and others being just as common here in corn country over the years. But, I have visited families who call their tractors Deeres no matter what! It's odd to me! But, I guess it's no more odd than the other items we're talking about! :)

strem said...

Just looking around my office... How about Rolodex and Scotch tape? Also, Super Glue? (See Cyanoacrylate on Wikipedia.)

Anonymous said...

Jello for gelitan - alan

Anonymous said...

How about; "Duck"tape for duct tape?
"Jockey's" for mens' briefs...sorry!!.. :)
"Walkman" for personal cd player

Sorry.. think up more later!!
Gotta go! Teresa

Anonymous said...

Hi 'Chelle!! Got a few more from Bill...."Crescent" wrench, and "Channel-Locks"....you might know it would be a tool....lol !!!!Teresa

strem said...

I saw a Frisbee in the pet store last night. I think that counts, right???

Anonymous said...

Don't forget about storing food in your tupperware or zip-lock bags.