Q for Quotidian

Today we arrive at the 17^th letter of the alphabet, a relational fellow as he’s rarely seen without his best friend, u, beside him. Queued like that, they make quite a quaint couple, no question about it.

Without further quibbling, let us quickly turn to our Q word.  Quotidian.  Say it out loud.  It’s a lot of fun.

Webster’s defines it as an adjective meaning daily, usual or customary, ordinary, common place.  And as a noun meaning something recurring daily, a quotidian fever or ague.  The root of the word is the Latin for occurring daily. 

In Europe, it’s likely to be seen as an adjective in a bakery’s name – such as Le Pain Quotidien (spelled with an “e” not “a”).  Listen here.

http://www.lepainquotidien.us/#/en_US/about_us/our_name

Fun, hey?  But for some reason, in the American English dictionaries, a common definition of quotidian is tied to malaria – e.g., a quotidian fever. Which is sad because I think the word has much more to offer. 

These are some of the quotidian events of my life that, although customary and usual for me, are not to be taken for granted. 

Waking up with my husband beside me

Waking up in a climate-controlled bedroom

Electricity – lights at a flip of a switch

Running water and all that entails – an indoor flush toilet, a hot shower

The first whiff of the coffee brewing

The first sip of coffee in the morning

The second cup of coffee in the morning

Skype calls to loved ones

Checking email and Facebook to catch up with loved ones

Clean clothes – a whole closetful with lots of shoes, too

Cupboard and fridge full of food

Ease of doing laundry

Good tennis shoes and a good walk

My Bible

My iPod and all the music on it

Reading

Quotidian events are the substance of life.  Today, I’m giving thanks for “le pain quotidien” that nourishes me, body mind and soul.

The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the ordinary. - Ralph Waldo Emerson