Yeah, Sure, I'm Fabulous
Posted: Thursday, November 03, 2011
by Tex Norman
The word fab·u·louscomes from the Latin word fabulosus, which, in turn comes from another Latin word fibula. In our language the word first showed up in Middle English in the 15thCentury. You will notice the kernel word of Fabulous is fibula and fibula is also where we get our word fable.
1: a:resembling or suggesting a fable : of an incredible, astonishing, or exaggerated nature <fabulous wealth>
b:wonderful, marvelous
2: told in or based on fable
If I tell you just how fabulous I am you should know (again from the get go) that it is an exaggeration and a form of fiction. I’m not fabulous.
Now why would I go to such lengths to devalue the word fabulous?
I am not sure if it is a Southern thing, or just a byproduct from a rigorous upbringing, but I find it nearly impossible to say I do anything good. To label anything about me as fabulous is, well, whacky-brained. The way I was raised, it was just plumb wrong [plumb is definitely a Southern term] to admit there is anything exceptional about myself.
As I young child I heard these sorts of phrases repeated:
- Don’t you get too big for your britches
- Don’t you get the big head
- When did you become little Mr. Know-it-all?
- You need to remember your place little Mister.
- You think your sh-t don’t stink.
My mother made a little plaque that she hung over a tiny little desk I was frequently grounded to, and that plaque had a picture of a fish with a hook in its lip, and the words:
Even a fish wouldn’t get caught if it kept its mouth shut.
I don’t mean that I am a total loser. I could tell you what I do best. That is possible because what I do might suck like a vacuum cleaner, but there are still some things I do better than other things. In high school, when the senior class voted on the senior superlatives, I was voted MOST CREATIVE. I am creative. I am constantly working on things, that most people would label as creative. I paint and draw. I have a website where people can purchase prints of my paintings. I have sold a couple of dozen paintings, and some of my work is in Australia, the Netherlands, and Abu Dhabi. I make jewelry. I sculpt. I write. I have written two novels, four books of poetry including a 400 page verse novel, and I’ve written numerous other short stories and nonfiction works.
Art and writing are the things I do best, but I cannot bring myself to label those skills as fabulous. I have never sold a story. If I hadn’t self-published I would never have had any books printed. While I have sold a few paintings, on my website in the past two years I’ve only sold two note-card-sized pictures and earned a total of $2.
I don’t write and paint because I’m fabulous at those things. I like being paid, but I do not write and paint because I can earn money or recognition for those things. I write and paint because I like to write and paint. I think of myself is as an artist, and a writer. I will go so far as to say that I can paint better than thousands of other people. But there are 100s of thousands of artists that are better than me. There could be millions of people that are better writers than me. I refuse to compete because I feel like a loser most of the time and I don’t need to add to that pain.
But then I remember that the word fabulous means an exaggeration. So, with that definition in mind, I will say, this one time, I’m a fabulous painter and writer (wink, wink, nudge, nudge.).
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)You wrestled with that vexing adjective so that no one would think too highly of you. But in the process, I became very impressed. I await to read more about you. As all of these writers struggled with that word "fabulous" don't you think the assignment had a curious ability to turn rocks over that hadn't been turned in a long time? I think the choice of the word was great for many manifold purposes. Great job. Tons of honesty and truth.Thanks. I think you are right. I didn't want to write on this fab word, but I'm starting to look at them as a challenge and the hard less appealing topics are the very one that bring the most pleasure when I try to respond. In the porcess a lot of rocks are turned over. Thanks again.
Hi Tex.
I'm tempted to say you are too self-deprecatory. But I've had so many people tell me I'm too something or other to say that to YOU with any sort of sincerity. I think you are a great writer (I won't use the word "fabulous"). I think you know it too and there is nothing wrong with that. Humility is frequently over-rated and often foisted upon us by the mediocre. There, I said it. Bad me, but I think it is true. What the mediocre don't realize is that there is nothing wrong with being that way either. It is what it is.
Hugs,
DianneIt is good to hear from you again. I did take a break. I was having lots of medical things going on and it put my mind somehwere else I guess. Thanks for remembering me. You're very kind.
You're definitely fabulous creative, Tex - this is such an original approach to the assignment! What's your website? I'd love to see your artwork. I love the yellow in this article, btw.
And I hate all those messages you grew up with... Glad they couldn't keep you down.Thank for reading.. I'm not sure this site lets me give the website. I'll try:
http://tex-norman.artistwebsites.com/
You might also like my collage poetry site:
http://collagepoetrybytex.blogspot.com/You can add your website to your bio. I notice you don't have one. If you want it, the option is in your control panel. You can write what you want about yourself, and put your website in. I'm not sure how many links you can add; maybe two, but definitely one. Then when you post articles, there's an option to automatically include your bio.
I looked at your site, and I think your art is truly fabulous! You have an amazingly free imagination. I love it all, and Life Lines is stunning! "Picking is better than being picked" - is the subject of my book!!! That really brought a smile to my heart - well, to my face, also :)If you wanted to use a Life Lines piece in your book, let me know I'd be happy to do something to support yhour book. Peace texThat's very generous of you, thanks!If you want I could send you a jpeg Let me know if you want it, and I'll email it to you. My email is texarooty@gmail.com
Not saying anything against your Mom because Mom's sometimes do give out negative vibes but now I think it is time you realized you are "fabulous" and I am not exaggerating! You are a great writer and respected member of Wrytestuff!I have forgiven my mother, and we had some meaningful time before she died. Thanks for beins so sweet..
I have to wonder if we were raised by the same mother. Still, hearing how lazy I was or how no woman would ever love me or I would never amount to anything has taken enough of my life.
You are fabulous, sir, and not in any exaggerated or unreal sense whatsoever.Thanks Ken. Parents can be difficult. I am a parent and sometimes I look back with burning shame on the things I did I which I hadn't done with my son. It could have been better. It could have been a lot worse. You turned out OK it seems. I 'm OK. My son is OK. Mistakes were made but usually we survive. Thanks for reading and responding.
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