Bass the Putter: The Infinite Loop of Creative Irony
Do you ever mix up the sounds and letters in words while you’re talking? Because I do. And it feels like I do it a lot. It’s actually become a running joke in my inner circles because I also write a lot, and words are my thing. You know? Indiana Jones has a hat, Popeye has spinach, and I have words.
Funny enough, I think that’s why I started leaning into it. When I’m at the table asking for butter, I’ll say “please bass the putter.” Or when my wife asks if I’m ready, I’ll accidentally say “yup. Just gotta put on my soes and shocks.” And I’m serious, it’s been happening more and more lately, almost like it’s becoming necond sature.
Invariably, when the swap happens, I follow it up with, “Yup. I’m an author.” Partly to call it out before anyone can tease me about it, but also because I love the irony.
It doesn’t help that I actively allow it to happen. For most people, they’ll feel the swap up and start the sentence over to clarify. In my case, I either repeat it or just keep on going like it never happened, finish my thought, then laugh about it.
I’m starting to think that’s why it’s been happening more. I find it funny, so I don’t try to fix it. If anything, I lean into it and start playing around with the words more.
Welcome to what can only be described as an infinite loop of irony. Please, allow me to explain. I’m an author, so I should speak correctly > I don’t speak correctly and actually enjoy it > leaning into it provides more word play > I increase my skill with words > I become a better author > I make more mistakes > etc.
Ok, look, I know I’m not a world-renowned author. I’m not even a city or neighborhood-renowned author. But that’s ok. Words are still my thing. I never said I was good at it. I want to be. I try to be. But that hardly matters. In my eyes, it’s more about the process than the thing itself, and there lies the final irony of this post—creative irony.
Those who care about the outcome too much don’t enjoy the process and produce a worse outcome. Those that don’t care about the outcome end up with a better outcome.
I don’t know if I’m a good author. You get to decide that. But what I do know is that words are my thing, and I’m sticking to’em.
