Copacetic is a word my grandmother used, and recently my dad rediscovered it when it came out of his mouth unexpectedly. My mom and I, regrettably, laughed at what we assumed was a made up colloquialism.* However...
Dictionary.com enlightened us. Copacetic is an "Americanism of obscure origin; possibly attributed to Louisiana French, Italian, or Hebrew." Love dictionary.com. It makes me feel very smart. In this case, it made me feel nostalgic for the grandmother I didn't know very well.
Copacetic actually means fine; completely satisfactory. Wonderful! In this perfectionist and slick world in which we live, I sometimes feel sub-par.** So thank you, paternal grandmother, for giving me permission to let myself off the hook from time to time. Dishes in the sink from last night? My son having waffles for lunch at 2 pm in his pjamas? No problem. Let's all say it together: Everything will be copacetic.
Beautiful. As Louis Armstrong said, 'What a Wonderful World.'
*col·lo·qui·al characteristic of or appropriate to ordinary or familiar conversation rather than formal speech or writing; informal.
**sub par inferior or shoddy.
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