The art of wishing someone “well”
My grandmother-in-law, may she rest in peace, used to wish people she didn’t like that she hoped they would go to a thousand weddings.
On its face, it sounds like a wonderful blessing. Attending many joyful celebrations sounds delightful. Only later did I understand what she really meant: wedding gifts.
In my culture, we give cash—generous amounts of cash—for weddings and other celebrations. Going to many weddings can be a serious financial burden, and when we were a young couple, it certainly wasn’t easy.
My father likes to “bless” people with a Yiddish phrase that translates to: may you be like an onion—your head in the ground and your legs in the air. It’s especially funny once you picture it.
All these “wishful thoughts” are passive-aggressive at best, but truly hilarious when you think about them. Generations before mine used humor, creativity, and even politeness when they wanted to curse someone.
It was an art form—one I deeply appreciate.
What are the funny phrases your family used?
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