43 Comments
User's avatar
Beth Peyton's avatar

Let’s get to bed honey, so these nice people can go home. And then, there’s the Irish goodbye!

Dobermans & Drag Queens's avatar

The Irish Goodbye is a staple

Paul Crenshaw's avatar

is that the same as a Midwest goodbye where you have to hug each other like 17 times?

Ally Hamilton's avatar

The Irish goodbye is where you sneak out without saying goodbye, so basically the opposite of the Midwest goodbye!

Paul Crenshaw's avatar

I like it then <3

Jennifer Smith's avatar

Boooooooo!

Ally Hamilton's avatar

Yes then you send a text in the morning saying you had a blast. No drama, no long goodbye, everyone wins!

Dobermans & Drag Queens's avatar

My dad was aces at it. Used to leave my mom at parties and people who ask "where's Mack?" And she'd say with zero anger "oh he left over an hour ago" He had limited energy for some gatherings

Ally Hamilton's avatar

It’s a genuine skill!

Beth Peyton's avatar

Neat little post! I’m sharing with people I met in Morocco. Their languages are also a mishmash AND most of them speak some English.

sierra echo charlie's avatar

What is an Irish goodbye?

Paul Crenshaw's avatar

There’s an explanation in the comments (I didn’t know either)

Mary Varner Hutto's avatar

My Mom would sometimes fall asleep if company stayed late and then they just got up and left.

Jerry's avatar

So many words, so much fun.

sierra echo charlie's avatar

Spongebob says *Ight Imma Head Out* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj1a3tsuzM0

sierra echo charlie's avatar

I love this piece!

Vince Puzick's avatar

The accompanying photo is so great. I love the movement in this, the shifts: geography, roles / persona, literary and how they influence our “fare thee wells.”

Ally Hamilton's avatar

Catch you on the flippity flip! I loved this. But also for some reason now I have Never Can Say Goodbye running through my head. So here you go so I’m not the only one! https://youtu.be/ofcgjeELS0M?si=WFNvjLQnghzQo_Su

Paul Crenshaw's avatar

First of all, I hope you have a red sequined dress like that. Second of all, since you put that song in my head I shall retaliate with this Irish goodbye:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZzl4MESsm0&list=PLjPZ_YqsanUUmDvMq-UDgg-x1HH6c_iYw&index=41

Ally Hamilton's avatar

😂🤣 well played, sir! That has replaced Gloria Gaynor now lol

Kingfishersurprise's avatar

Just loved this. Cheerio !

Paul Crenshaw's avatar

Later skater <3

Delia Lloyd's avatar

Ciao for now, Paul!

Toni Jeffrey's avatar

Let's make like a shepherd and get the flock out of here.

Abigail Thomas's avatar

I used to split, but loved the banana.

Gotta hit the road. Hate to run, this was fun.

Paul Crenshaw's avatar

Catch you on the flip side <3

Abigail Thomas's avatar

hahaha. you are too cool for school!

Paul Crenshaw's avatar

almost as cool as you!

Abigail Thomas's avatar

Got no suitable reply for that one except to give it right back to you. Let's call it a draw.

SajaWriter's avatar

Keeping with diversity: my mom used to say, “Ya me voy” but that could mean I’m going now or yeah I’m thinking it’s time to leave and it’ll happen when I’m done talking. My brother used to say “Hasta la bye-bye.” I miss him.

Enjoyable read and proof of the beautiful mix of people here. And you didn’t even touch on phone closures!

Paul Crenshaw's avatar

You hang up first.

No you hang up first.

Sabrina Sehbai's avatar

I love this about language. That there is so much opportunity with its usage. It makes communication feel endlessly full of possibility, and it’s just as interesting unpacking where these uses all originate (there’s a cultural lessons waiting to happen!).

Keeping with the light tone, there is a Finnish comedian (Ismo Leikola) who does a great bit talking about the confusing English use of the word “ass”.

Paul Crenshaw's avatar

I will have to look that up—thank you for the recommendation, and the kind words <3

Jeannine's avatar

Nice one Paul! See ya!

Jeannie Ewing's avatar

Is that your banana split, Paul, in the photo?

Also - you forgot "I have to pee" as another possibility when someone says, "I have to go." Sorry, but raising two little boys, ages 6 and 7, that was honestly the first interpretation that came to my mind this morning when I read your opening line! :)

Paul Crenshaw's avatar

I wrote an essay about the poetry of peeing a few years ago, so I didn’t go into it as much here <3

Jeannie Ewing's avatar

Ah, I didn’t know that, Paul. Maybe you could link up to it again sometime in the future. :) That must’ve been before I started subscribing to you.

Paul Crenshaw's avatar

It was before I was on Substack at all! I published it in Hobart, formerly run by the great @Aaron Burch. It is now housed here (language warning):

https://www.havehashad.com/web_features/number-one

Jeannie Ewing's avatar

Ah, that makes sense! Thanks for the link, Paul. :)

Andrea A. Firth's avatar

how about Cheers?

Paul Crenshaw's avatar

I thought you meant the tv show for a moment :-)