Having a 16 year old daughter in the house brings back memories of what it was like when I was 16. I was enthralled by the Young Rascals and the Vagrants; she by the Backstreet Boys and others whose names I don't know.

But one thing has stayed the same from then to now... in fact from even before my teen years: the (mis)use of the word LIKE.

The beatniks of the 50s would be known to say "Like, wow." We flower children would say something was "like groovy" or "like cool". At least our decades used like as a modifier, not a verb. Yes, LIKE is used like a verb (sic: properly as a verb).

Now, this conversation must turn obliquely to make the point. Time was when a conversation would be reported as he said...she said.

Then at some point, to my annoyance, the colloquial changed the verb said to the verb go. As in the following typical conversation that could be oveheard on any given subway during the morning rush hour: "So he goes 'do you wanna go out' and I go 'no way, not with you' and he goes 'why not?' and I go 'cause your sisters a tramp'. Screw him, not if he was the last guy in Earth." and it GOES on ad nauseum.

Now, to my total horror and disgust, the verb that is chosen not only describes the text of the conversation, but also describes the emotional and physical condition of the speakers! For example: "I saw Anthony in the hall. He was like 'Hi! What are you doing Friday?' and I was like 'Nothing' and he was like 'How about a movie' and I was like 'no way!'. I mean I was like gagging! So I told Beth and she was like hysterical. Sally saw us laughing and I was like 'Oh, no, here she comes'. We were like 'Let's get outta here'."

Yes, this is a typical conversation at my dinner table. I am always correcting my daughter about using the correct word for the correct meaning. There are times she and/or her friends can't hold a conversation without using LIKE like that! But she is no more inclined to listen to me than I was to my parents, or, I am sure, my parents were to my grandparents.

And in years, the word LIKE will take on a whole new incarnation. My grandchildren will find a new meaning for it, alien to anything that has come before. And my daughter will yell at them and they won't listen. Such is the way of time and children. Such is the way of slanguage.

I really don't LIKE it.

Oh... by the way: I have been doing a lot of travelling over the past few months... my favorite plane WAS the L-1011... it is now the Boeing 757. What an aircraft! As it idles at the end of the runway, you can feel that baby aching to run. She shakes with anticipation as if to say "Release my brakes, I wanna fly!" Then the pilot releases the brakes and powers up and WHAM you are thrown against your seat back as she roars down the runway. What a rush!