Big A made plans for us to spend the day in Detroit today. My only big decision was what I should wear to the restaurant that wouldn't be too dressy for the Detroit Pistons game. Clearly, I don't go to games very often. I needn't have worried... most people wore team merch, but there were fancier clothes and the real (literal) rockstars were wearing furs and showy jewelry.
The Detroit Pistons were playing the Toronto Raptors, and because the wonderful Nicole is from Canada too, this seemed like a sign about the scheme I pitched her about visiting Detroit-MI-the Midwest.
I'm reading Long Bright River for one book club and The Frozen River for another and am preparing to get the two thoroughly confused because both titles have "river" in them. Anyway, I was describing Long Bright River to Big A on the way home, and I used the term "addicted" to describe a character. Ever the humanist (and a volunteer doc in Suboxone clinics), he gently reminded me to use people-first language. I'm learning. [Update: A recommends this guide.]
Pic: Waking up from a nap to Big A and Max looming over me. I know I tend to anthropomorphize our canine kids, but Max really does look so much like A here.
15 comments:
It's long been A Thing that dogs and their pet parents eventually look alike. LOL
I hope you enjoyed your date. Rick and I used to have season tickets to the Cleveland Cavaliers ages ago. So fun!
Cute.
I'm still thinking about it! Maybe!
I would be super confused with two river books. And as for the word addicted, it is SO HARD not to use it, so I know what you mean. I have swapped out addicted for obsessed, which seems much more accurate anyway. We know better, we do better! I mean it wasn't even five years ago that people used the term "yoga addict" or "cardio junkie" and at the time it didn't seem wrong. But language is fluid! Although I do think I am a coffee addict. I get serious withdrawals in the (maybe once a decade, due to illness) event that I don't have coffee.
I haven't been to a sporting event in an age, but that sounds super fun!
I'm glad you had a good time at the game. I am so not sporty I had to look the team up to see which sport they play, but a day in a different city is always fun.
I read the article you linked to. I can see why you wouldn't want to refer someone as an "addict" but one of the recommended terms is "person with opioid addiction." So I don't think the "addiction" is inappropriate. Or to say a person is "addicted..." Like so many other things, it seems complicated
What a fun outing! I would love it if Nicole came to the Midwest!! I am hoping to make it out to BC in the next year or 2 and would love to visit her area again. My friend lived in that region of Canada for awhile and it’s so gorgeous and kind of a low key place to visit which is often what I am craving from my vacations.
Getting the language right is tricky. I have tried to shift to person centered language around disabilities and such, too.
I think the 2 River books might confuse me too. I'm currently listening to one book and reading another, and at first both had teen aged girls as the main character and it was starting to be an issue for me, keeping the stories straight. Now one of them has aged up and is in her 20s, so I think (hope) it's going to be a bit easier.
The Cavs! Now that's a home team! When we lived in OH, A took the kids to a few Cavs games. Even I know about LeBron :).
Nicole--you're so right about language being fluid and changing... it's so yoga-like the way you describe how we ourselves change along with it...
StephLove, I'm laughing because I had to ask what sport we were going to see as well. I'm not at all sporty either. (For the most part, basketball is the only sport A watches; I'm relieved I don't get second-hand football or baseball.)
Jenny--So awesome you looked it up. A suggested a better source, so I linked that as well. For the time being, I'm going with the term may have a place in medical settings, but I have no way of determining if someone is addicted or not, so I can avoid it.
Canada does look so lovely. Nicole's pictures of Banff... OMG!
The first time someone explained person-centered language--it made so much sense! I loved it right away.
Julie, I think your plight with the two teen girls may be more real than my two rivers problem. It turns out the rivers books are set in different eras and locations, so they may actually be relatively easier!
The idea of worrying about what you're wearing in Detroit in ANY venue is puzzling to me. Just wear whatever!
That makes perfect sense!
The place we were going to (Leña) is very happening right now though + I do like to dress up + have a closet full of dressy clothes and no where to wear them + was grateful for the distraction.
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