Every family has it’s quirky sayings — pithy little proverbs that express volumes in a few words.  These bits of wisdom might come from a line in a movie or a quote from a book.  Or perhaps the maxims were handed down from past generations and the source is unknown.

My sibs and I recently had a conversation about sayings we heard in our home as we were growing up.  One such saying would have been said as the car backed out of the garage and we headed down the driveway, perhaps late for a school concert or a ballgame —

“And we’re off….like a dirty shirt.”

Evidently, dirty shirts were supposed to come off fast, because the gravel was usually flying in all directions as my dad pressed down on the gas pedal.  There was a sense of relief that we were finally on our way after numerous trips back in the house for something or another.

I had that feeling this morning — the first Monday of the new year.  After the slow, soft, easy days of Christmas break, this morning the pace picked up.  Back to responsibilities, back to schedules, back to gravel flying under the tires as I was off and running.

And so we are “off like a dirty shirt” into 2015.

 Next Monday: another family adage.  

In the meantime, what were some of your family’s unusual sayings?