OH BROTHER!

My big brother doesn’t say much, but when he does it is gosh darn funny.  Growing up our conversations were largely a series of grunts peppered with occasional name calling.  He was always quick with a creative, insulting name such as “mud turkle, yellow-bellied sap sucker, or stink pot."  These always left me stumbling around for a suitable retort which was usually “I’m telling MOM!”  As I got older I began to consider these as terms of endearment rather than accept the mental scars of being a mud turkle.  Imagine my surprise when I discovered his insults incorporate literary references and biological organisms into the mix.   For example, “mud turkle” refers to the mud turtle described by Mark Twain which actually exists.  The “stink pot” is also a type of turtle.  And yes, the “yellow-bellied sap sucker” is a real woodpecker with a yellow-belly that drills holes into the trees causing sap to run out.  Thanks for expanding my knowledge “coprophage” (poop eater).  I will have more insults ready for you by Christmas!