Words mean things. The way we say them mean things. Sometimes our body language even changes the meaning of what words come out of our mouth. Showing that we mean the opposite of what we are saying.

However, once again, it is enunciation that I am addressing here. How the way we enunciate can cause humorous misunderstandings. It really can’t be our accents can it? Nah, surely not! Must be the enunciation.

I had went to our chiropractor for an adjustment. While there, I noticed a product he had for sell called Essiac (you pronounce it ess-ee-ack). I asked about it and was told it is an herbal supplement that boosts the immune system. Cancer patients use it and others use it as a preventive measure.

It comes in a powder, that you make a tea out of, or pre-mixed that you take in a spoon twice a day.

As I had been feeling a bit run down, I decided to try it.
I called Ray about it, and he said he knew all about it. His uncle and aunt (who go to the same chiropractor as we do) use it all the time and he suggested I call her to learn more about it. Which I did.

I then called Lynn, Rays oldest daughter, who had been raised up North. I was so excited about it, that I wanted to share my find with her.
I began by saying, “Lynn, I went to Doc Massey today and got some Essiac.”
She said, “You WHAT?”
Lynn also goes to Doc Massey. In fact, most of our family does.

I repeated, “I got some Essiac.”
She asked, “Does Ray know about this?”
I said, “Oh yes, I called him right after.”
She said, “And he is okay with this?”
I answered, “Why yes.” I heard her grunt when I said that.

I was beginning to get a bit confused, because I couldn’t understand why she was sounding so shocked and kept interrupting me before I could tell her all about it. It just wasn’t like her at all!

I continued, “Actually, he said his uncle and aunt use it all the time and had me call her for some pointers.”
“WHAT!”, she exclaimed, then said, “Wait a minute, I think something is wrong here.”

I said, “No, there is nothing wrong. It can be a bit expensive,” (it was here that I heard her grunt once again) “but it is all natural. There is nothing wrong with it. Wait a minute, let me get the bottle and read the ingredience to you.”

She said, “No, no, wait a minute. Now I KNOW something is wrong. Spell the word you are saying.”
I asked, “Essiac?”
She said, “Yes.”

So I spelled it. When I did, she began laughing.
Therefore I asked, “What? What is so funny?”
She replied, “Oh, do you know what I thought you were saying?”
“I have no idea”, I replied.
“I thought you were spelling out the word sex. I thought you were saying, ‘I went to Doc Massey and got some S-E-X”

“You what!”, I exclaimed.
“Yes, and when you said Ray was okay with it, and even had you call his aunt! Well I was just floored. Then I knew something was definitely wrong.”

Of course, I had to tell Ray about it when he got home. Also, the next day, when I went back to Doc Massey, I told him about the mix-up. He found it funny, and when I would come in the office, he would ask me how the stuff in the green bottle was doing. He said he was afraid to call it by name around any of us lest his reputation get ruined.

Poor thing, when it comes to our family, he is a very long suffering doctor. But that is a different story, for another day.

So, once again, be careful out there my southern friends. Enunciate clearly at all times. Our fellow Americans just don’t understand us otherwise.