Mother earth news tanning hides12/26/2023 ![]() ![]() I live in Pittsburgh and still hear this expression frequently. Mom grew up in Coatesville and Lancaster, so she would have heard this expression constantly. This expression comes from “redden” a Middle English verb meaning to clear an area or make it tidy. The term arrived in Pennsylvania with the early Scottish settlers and stuck. “Help me redd up the house.” In many parts of Pennsylvania, residents know that “redd up” means to clean or clear up a mess-to make things tidy. Tip: In Mom’s world, a good cup of coffee was often a perfect way to help get one’s head on straight. The notion of intentionally using drugs or alcohol was insane because it is always an advantage to have one’s head on straight. There are many causes of this kind of confusion. “He needs to get his head on straight.” This expression referred to someone who was confused, discombobulated, or addled. But when you cannot escape “a pill,” you take it without complaint and move on. Avoiding them and their unending complaints is an excellent strategy. “She is a pill.” This expression was reserved for any person Mom believed was difficult to satisfy or a steady source of irritation. Sadly, the very fact that she had to use this expression meant that she frequently met people “with their head in the clouds” or people who “were putting on airs.” She always preferred to spend time with folks who “had their feet on the ground.” People who resisted the temptation to believe that they were more important and more entitled than others. ![]() People who might have already been knocked about by fate. “He’s very down to Earth.” Mom reserved this description for people who had a view of reality that was similar to her’s. Let me tell you about some of her favorite expressions. She’s gone now, but I think of her often. My Mom was born on November 20th more than 100 years ago. ![]()
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