 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| The New York Optimist |
SHARE
Ellie's "shorts" -Ellie Robyns
The Napkin in my Sleeve...
As I wrote this I also looked around to find a napkin to wipe the crumbs from my keyboard.. Since I am
such a dedicated writer, I eat at my desk..but don't worry I still maintain good posture.
So, where was the napkin? Against my wrist, inside my shirt sleeve! Immediately I thought, here we
go..after all the times I said "I am not going to be my mom" it turns out that I am not! I am my
GRANDMOTHER instead! I skipped a generation altogether and went right to being bubbe.
The only difference is, bubbe pulled out a dusty tissue..at least I progressed to using a recyclable Dunkin
Donuts napkin!
Yes I am the one who you see taking a few too many napkins, while waiting online for my overpriced
coffee/latte/shmatte. I need to justify the cost somehow! Don't worry I wont embarrass you if we are
together.
So, I laugh and think not only does the napkin in the sleeve come in handy, it now also serves as a wrist
rest/support. Back in the day grandma/bubbe, didn't use a computer. Now that just about all of us use the
computer for work, research or socializing, the napkin has a new purpose!
I gather, if I put a napkin inside my other sleeve, I would be more balanced and my right wrist would be as
warm as my left wrist is right now. I haven't progressed to the "dual napkin look" just yet. I think I look
more sane with only one napkin in my sleeve. Like it really matters?!
One more thought. The word Napkin, Nap/Kin, sounds like your kids taking a rest. Your Kin are napping.
Where does the word come from anyway? Glad you asked! Since I also love Etymology (the study of a
word's and/or expression's origin) I will tell you the meaning.
Napkin- Synonyms: diaper nappy table napkin serviette
Napkin comes from the English, where it actually means a Diaper! Probably not the best visual reference,
but I did not make it up!
Napkin- a noun also meaning: a small piece of table linen that is used to wipe the mouth and to
cover the lap in order to protect clothing
NAPKINS
The first napkin was a lump of dough the Spartans called 'apomagdalie', a mixture cut into small pieces and
rolled and kneeded at the table, a custom that led to using sliced bread to wipe the hands.
There you go..so now when you pull that napkin out from inside your sleeve, you will know where
it comes from. And thanks bubbe, I am proud to be like you!
The Napkin in my Sleeve...
As I wrote this I also looked around to find a napkin to wipe the crumbs from my keyboard.. Since I am
such a dedicated writer, I eat at my desk..but don't worry I still maintain good posture.
So, where was the napkin? Against my wrist, inside my shirt sleeve! Immediately I thought, here we
go..after all the times I said "I am not going to be my mom" it turns out that I am not! I am my
GRANDMOTHER instead! I skipped a generation altogether and went right to being bubbe.
The only difference is, bubbe pulled out a dusty tissue..at least I progressed to using a recyclable Dunkin
Donuts napkin!
Yes I am the one who you see taking a few too many napkins, while waiting online for my overpriced
coffee/latte/shmatte. I need to justify the cost somehow! Don't worry I wont embarrass you if we are
together.
So, I laugh and think not only does the napkin in the sleeve come in handy, it now also serves as a wrist
rest/support. Back in the day grandma/bubbe, didn't use a computer. Now that just about all of us use the
computer for work, research or socializing, the napkin has a new purpose!
I gather, if I put a napkin inside my other sleeve, I would be more balanced and my right wrist would be as
warm as my left wrist is right now. I haven't progressed to the "dual napkin look" just yet. I think I look
more sane with only one napkin in my sleeve. Like it really matters?!
One more thought. The word Napkin, Nap/Kin, sounds like your kids taking a rest. Your Kin are napping.
Where does the word come from anyway? Glad you asked! Since I also love Etymology (the study of a
word's and/or expression's origin) I will tell you the meaning.
Napkin- Synonyms: diaper nappy table napkin serviette
Napkin comes from the English, where it actually means a Diaper! Probably not the best visual reference,
but I did not make it up!
Napkin- a noun also meaning: a small piece of table linen that is used to wipe the mouth and to
cover the lap in order to protect clothing
NAPKINS
The first napkin was a lump of dough the Spartans called 'apomagdalie', a mixture cut into small pieces and
rolled and kneeded at the table, a custom that led to using sliced bread to wipe the hands.
There you go..so now when you pull that napkin out from inside your sleeve, you will know where
it comes from. And thanks bubbe, I am proud to be like you!
