| Yeah I have heard that twins often make up their own language that only they can understand; I believe friends are the same way. My two closest friends and I have incorporated our own words into our vocabulary throughout the years. There are also a few simple words that hold a deeper meaning to my friends and I than they would to someone who does not share our special bond. One such word is �yeah.� As with most people, our general use of the word is the same as the word �yes.� It is used to affirm a statement. As the years of our friendship went by, our understanding of the word became much different. It evolved on the soccer field as a word that meant, �I don�t have anyone on me! Pass me the ball!� In times when we had spent so much time together that we had nothing left to say there would be a long pause in conversation, and a breathy �yeah� would be let out, often in unison, as an understanding that we all were bored. Often during times of great stress or when one of us just could not quite express what we wanted to say, a �yeah� would be said and somehow the others could understand the rest of the story. It was often used when an end to a story is too embarrassing to complete, but we always understood what was implied. Recently �yeah� has reached its deepest meaning. When my great-grandmother passed away over Christmas break, I called one of my friends and told her what had happened. I started to cry and all she had to say was �yeah,� and I knew that she knew exactly how I was feeling. I knew that she was telling me that everything would be fine, that she was there for me if I needed her. She was telling me that she loved me. I know that it sounds silly for such a simple word to mean so much to me, but when uttered by my friends, has become one of the greatest words of comfort in my life. |
 |
| Spring '01 |