tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29053672.post6523969136390253626..comments2023-11-15T18:56:36.283-07:00Comments on Jill's World of Research, Reaction and Millinery: A Sussy/Sussie by any other nameThoughts on Life and Millinery.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15826496514403918108noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29053672.post-1645099383749064492008-01-26T17:09:00.000-07:002008-01-26T17:09:00.000-07:00Jill.. this was great! and I enjoyed your comment...Jill.. this was great! and I enjoyed your commenters too. <BR/>I've never heard of the word sussy..but I think if more people brought the custom out into the open by talking about it , it could maybe be put back on the shelf... I love to give but so often the sussy isn't needed or expected and then guilts the recipient with obligatory return giving .. as you so elequently noted .Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02029451742280017744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29053672.post-22100701771516075362008-01-24T22:21:00.000-07:002008-01-24T22:21:00.000-07:00In the Letinsky household, we call Sussie's by the...In the Letinsky household, we call Sussie's by their Yiddish name: kitsch or Tchotchke!<BR/><BR/>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tchotchke<BR/><BR/>We try to have a Tchotchke free home, but it's hard, especially when people like to give it as presents!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29053672.post-28818237704682359302008-01-24T17:21:00.000-07:002008-01-24T17:21:00.000-07:00I say, re-sussy them! Maybe if you don't display ...I say, re-sussy them! Maybe if you don't display them in your home, you'll stop receiving them...yes, I know I'm being cynical. I'm sorry. I never heard this term before. <BR/><BR/>I did a little research and found this about "sussy" at the word-detective.com:<BR/><BR/>Sussy Q, Part II.<BR/><BR/>Dear Word Detective: This weekend my mom sent me on a quest to discover the origin of the word "sussy," but I have had no luck. We both agree that it means a treat or a present, often given as a surprise to the recipient. This is a word that both my mom and I grew up hearing. I never questioned it before because I had come to understand its meaning as a child, but my mom was recently confronted about its meaning by a friend. Do you have any idea where this word comes from? Or is my mom's suspicion that my grandmother concocted the word really true? -- Mercedes Barletta, via the internet.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>Well, I wouldn't be so quick to blame this mystery on Grandma and her fevered imagination. I frequently receive queries about odd words that readers have heard from their elderly relatives, words that appear in no dictionary and, granted, sound as if they might have been invented in the midst of a Geritol bender. But, oddly enough, these weird words often turn out to be perfectly respectable folk terms, once common but now consigned by cultural homogenization to the dusty corners of our language. Of course, in a few cases the old coot does indeed turn out to be jerking everyone's chain and the appropriate authorities must be summoned.<BR/><BR/>In the case of "sussy," I realized after a few moments that we were, once again, dealing with the mysterious "surcee," which goes by a variety of spellings and means "a small gift or favor, often given as a surprise."<BR/><BR/>I first investigated "surcee" about five years ago and, after coming up dry, I posed the question to the American Dialect Society mailing list. I promptly received the following reply from Joan Hall, Editor of DARE (the Dictionary of American Regional English):<BR/><BR/>The Dictionary of American Regional English files have anecdotal evidence for the term "sirsee" (variously spelled "circe," "circi," "surcy") from NC, SC, GA, and PA, as well as two reports from Buffalo, NY and Oklahoma, where the speakers were said to come from "someplace else." All evidence is oral, so the spellings are speakers' attempts to represent the pronunciation. The etymology is uncertain, but one plausible source is the Scots verb "sussie," meaning "to take trouble, to care, to bother oneself." This probably came to Scotland from the French "souci," meaning "care, trouble."Sara at Come Away With Mehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07677354270954094291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29053672.post-76319783517415501762008-01-24T10:36:00.000-07:002008-01-24T10:36:00.000-07:00Funny, that is interesting funny, how many of your...Funny, that is interesting funny, how many of your posts get me thinking. <BR/><BR/>Gifting or Sussy giving may be perceived differently by so many. So how do we as individuals with our own bias and beliefs work within the multitude of beliefs. It seems to me, that rarely can we change others; it is hard too to change ourselves, yet that is often easier than changing others. ;) <BR/><BR/>So to get out from under the burden you feel when given a Sussy what can you do? Some options: Develop a different outlook, refuse the sussy, donate it to charity, keep 'em in a box and toss it whenever it gets full, re-gift them, go on Oprah or Dr Phil to discuss the issue (he he, I'd tune in for that show.)<BR/><BR/>(*Soaps and candles are great donations to homeless shelters. IMHO)<BR/><BR/>Scrubs... oh OH that unfortunately is a rant issue for me. While many are cute, sorry, but, I wonder how some of the "fun" and colorful prints actually appear in the eyes of an already nauseated patient. Of course context and type of work and patients makes a difference. JMHO.<BR/><BR/>As always enjoyed the article: words and photos. And hope you don't mind me sharing my thoughts and views that came out.Jane Carlstromhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11823049237183212920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29053672.post-53294513272753500632008-01-24T04:41:00.000-07:002008-01-24T04:41:00.000-07:00Have always thought sussy was short for surprise. ...Have always thought sussy was short for surprise. I don't mind receiving them but do not feel obliged to use or display them either. After all, my home is mine. Anyway, have spent a LOT of time in recent years unburdening myself of stuff - including tiny soaps, candles etc. Space is expensive here. K Q:-)<BR/><BR/>P.S. Laura's scrubs are cute but I do miss those crisp nurse uniforms with the hats. I'll bet Laura is happier in her scrubs tho'.Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01983223015773238369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29053672.post-80570461727276362122008-01-23T23:08:00.000-07:002008-01-23T23:08:00.000-07:00I don't know why, but nearly every one of your pos...I don't know why, but nearly every one of your posts makes me giggle. I full out laughed at the randomness of the Laura shot. So funny. Just reminds me of how much I love your sense of humor.<BR/><BR/>I hear ya on the whole sussy thing. Don't offer to clean my bathroom or I'll swap ya. Well, unless I'm paying you to do it....then it's a whole other matter.<BR/><BR/>Great post. Again.L&Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11300904977347356094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29053672.post-88278188628527945002008-01-23T20:18:00.000-07:002008-01-23T20:18:00.000-07:00Jill,Believe it or not, you have given me sussy by...Jill,<BR/><BR/>Believe it or not, you have given me sussy by writing this blog. Sometimes I feel like I am sneaking in the back door or stealing a bit of your thoughts because I came to your blog when you gave the address at the Williamsburg Candy House display, and then I got hooked. Now I come to your site every single day hoping to read a bit more of your wonderful insight. You can talk about anything with such ease. I feel like you are giving of yourself to me and all I do is sit back, read and receive. Keep up the sussy. I love it!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29053672.post-20913826903312662232008-01-23T17:44:00.000-07:002008-01-23T17:44:00.000-07:00Jill, this is definately a thought provoking post....Jill, this is definately a thought provoking post. I would love to know what your southern readers really think about sussies. Would they feel relieved if that went out of vogue? <BR/>I guess I'm a giver by nature and it really never occured to me that giving could be difficult to receive. <BR/>I expect that receiving is much more comfortable when the motive is understood. I'm learning that too. <BR/><BR/>I read to the end .. .thank you for that sussy. . .and the picture of the scrubs. I've also thought they look mighty comfy and also thought I wish had the authority to run down town with them (as though I was on my way to or from work at the hospital)Lovella ♥https://www.blogger.com/profile/13870567090244361779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29053672.post-86319267840034596112008-01-23T17:23:00.000-07:002008-01-23T17:23:00.000-07:00I declare, we must have that "cosmic jive" you men...I declare, we must have that "cosmic jive" you mentioned! I say that because of two things in this post: Laura's scrubs and the whole idea of gift-giving (sussy). <BR/><BR/>Because of Doc's shoulder injury, he's been leaving for (& returning from) work in his scrubs this week. Normally, he changes at the clinic, but I have to help him get the shirt on/off. Anyway, we had discussed him wearing the scrubs in public. For some reason, seeing scrubs in a non-medical environment really rubs me the wrong way (is that because of an infection-control concern?). It's just funny that we discussed wearing scrubs and you've posted Laura wearing those adorable frog scrubs!<BR/><BR/>As far as the sussy thing, it does bother me when someone brings a gift by for no real reason (maybe I'm just not a gracious recipient?), and especially when the item is something I'd never use (does the giver even know anything at all about me?). The whole idea of giving a gift because a gift was received could go on forever! (And, does this giver have an ulterior motive?)<BR/><BR/>Now, if a visitor was to jump up and grab my vacuum cleaner or the dust cloth and polish, I'd probably initially feel offended, unless maybe they had mentioned this to me before coming over...then perhaps I'd be thrilled for the help. <BR/><BR/>As for the hugs: a hug from a friend is fine, but if you're a stranger - hands off. Maybe that's a bit because of the distrust I've learned from living in today's world. <BR/><BR/>As for you, I do so appreciate the time you take to write so eloquently and with such candor - you seem to be a long-time friend to me! Share all you want!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com