A.Word.A.Day -- AWADmail Issue 1111

While not qualifying as a word, the 1971 Beach Boys tune “Take a Load Off Your Feet” (3 min.) from the Surf’s Up album pays homage to those metatarsals and arches! The lyrics are quite enjoyable and as important today as they were 50+ years ago while trolling the beaches of Southern California.
-Mike Schall, Santa Monica, California (mschall mindspring.com)

Gingivae (gums) become more important as I age. I’m so glad I have them, holding my teeth in place. When I was young, I wish I had followed the advice of the old man at the end of Prelude to a Kiss: “Floss..
-Frank Imhoff, St. Charles, Illinois (frankimhoff netscape.net)

I LOVE my hands! They play piano, they operate my computer keyboard, they can reach other body parts. I do not love my senior-citizen belly fat. My whole body enjoys A.Word.A.Day!
-Karen Dwyer, Thompson Falls, Montana (tfl4067 blackfoot.net)

Most Important body part... I’m a guy. It’s obvious.
-James Newman, Santa Clarita, California (jymzjet earthlink.net)

The comedian Emo Philips once said:
“I used to think that the brain was the most fascinating part of the body. Then I realized, ‘Whoa, look what’s telling me that.’”
-Alex Pimentel, Richmond, California (pimentelconstruction.ap gmail.com)

“I was playin’ my guitar, lyin’ underneath the stars, just thankin’ the Lord for my fingers, for my fingers!” Paul Simon, “Duncan” Your entry for today made me think of that. Here’s the original version (4 min.) Needless to say, a great song!
-Linda Lipscomb, Kensington, California (lips3000 aol.com)

My eyes -- they are my windows to the large world; I would be imprisoned in my very small one if I couldn’t see.
-Marilyn Kagan, Providence, Rhode Island (busybeadermarilyn aol.com)

The eyes have it. My windows on the world. Voyeurs each. They are my treasured body parts. My favorite possessions that accompany me through life. Two faithful guardians at the helm. Clouded over slightly as I age, I bring them in for some fine-tuning. And voila, my vistas are bright again - the gift to my eyes for having served me well throughout all my colorful years.
-Judith Marks-White, Westport, Connecticut (joodthmw gmail.com)

Speaking as an anthropologist, I’d say I most value my opposable thumbs.
-Glenn Petersen, Micronesia (gpetersen15 gmail.com)

I am most thankful for my heart, which keeps me going. I don’t like my colon! It misbehaves too often!
-Judy Carrino, Cary, North Carolina (kenju99 gmail.com)

I’d have to say my hands. I compose music, and find myself caring for them whenever they need that extra attention to do what helps feed my spirit.
-Chris House, Olympia, Washington (minimanorama gmail.com)

The words this week -- and your questions -- made me think of the 1968 song by The Mothers of Invention: “What’s The Ugliest Part of Your Body?” Here’s the chorus:

What’s the ugliest part of your body?
What’s the ugliest part of your body?
Some say your nose, some say your toes
I think it’s your mind -- woo woo.

-Ellen D. Murphy, Portland, Maine (radochas gmail.com)

I’m a surrogate partner [nsfw], which means I have worked intimately with thousands of bodies, and embrace body love/connecting our mind with our bodies. Everyone has something beautiful about their bodies - most of the time, it is their eyes.
My favorite parts of my body change, but right now, at age 50, my favorite part of my body is my skin. It is very soft, creamy, feminine, and the source of so much pleasure. I use terms such as skinship, skintimacy, and skintercourse.
-Kendra Holliday, St Louis, Missouri (kejholliday gmail.com)

My brain, of course. Everything else is, in theory at least, replaceable. But without my brain, I’m not me.
-Richard S. Russell, Madison, Wisconsin (RichardSRussell tds.net)

I hate my hands, aka, the Claws. A series of mishaps -- dog leash pulled thumb out of joint, fingers were impaled upon golden bowl cactus, fell down for no reason on pavement, stabbed self with letter opener -- has caused my fingers to bulge in the wrong places and cramp all over. They make unexpected left turns. I’m astonished that I can still write with a pen, wield a paring knife, and play the piano. I use my hands at Halloween to scare small children.
-Lisa Bitel, Los Angeles, California (bitel usc.edu)

As the oldest of three, I remember taking my mother aside one day when I was about ten and asking who was her favorite, promising not to flaunt the expected answer (me, of course). She smiled, and softly whispered, without hesitation, “I love you all the same.” I guess that’s what I’ll say about my parts.
-Donald B. Ardell, Madison, Wisconsin (awr.realwellness gmail.com)

Glad that you enjoyed the marathon in Victoria, Canada. Today (Mon, Oct 9) in Canada we celebrate Thanksgiving, an invitation to reflect and be grateful for what we have. Interesting that today’s invitation is to consider what we are grateful for and particularly which part of the body we are most grateful for.
The daily practice of Taoist tai chi for the past seventeen years has made me more aware that when ALL the parts of my body work harmoniously, a greater sense of wellbeing results. Pains alert me to my wrong postures and remind me of past injuries. So which part of my body am I most grateful for? ALL OF THEM, because each serves and contributes to my greater wellbeing and I am grateful to each of them for the lessons they teach me when, in my negligence, I treat them with less respect and care than they deserve.
-Tony Guglielmi, Victoria, Canada (tonygug44 gmail.com)