bungarendeen

Bungarendeen

Of course, our family has familiar phrases we use a lot. We have been known to get so comfortable, we forgot to mention to the kids the terms were nonsense. One such word was “bungarendeen” which Bud commonly used to describe the potential for harm. For example: “Don’t eat that potato salad that’s been sitting out too long. It might give you Bungarendeen!” Another:” Let me clean that cut and put Neosporin and bandage on it. You don’t want to get Bungarendeen.” Again: Always wash your hands after going to the bathroom. You don’t want Bungarendeen!”

After a lifetime of indoctrination, one of our kids was in college biology class. The instructor was covering pathogens and neglected to mention the all important Bungarendeen. The unfortunate student raised their hand, “But what about Bungarendeen? You didn’t cover that.”

The response was sadly predictable.

Bungarendeen

2009-10-10-Avoid-the-plagueWhen warning the children not to eat potato salad that had been sitting on the counter for a week, or the need to clean and dress a cut, generally instructing them in infection avoidance instead of going into the specifics Bud would say, for example, “Don’t eat that. You’ll get bungarendeen.”  He was a nurse, after all, and didn’t know better.

My daughter was in high school; her teacher was discussing various dread bacteria.  Never hearing the one she’d been waiting for, she raised her hand.  “What about bungarendeen?”

She was rewarded was generalized hysteria.  When the teacher quit laughing, she said.  “You must be John’s sister.  He asked that same question three years ago.”