The "-age" Revolution

Four and a half months later:

On December 13th, 2008 a post was made, a post that some say will live on in our linguistic stylings for eternity.  Here is that post for all to witness the profundity that is the "-age."  Simple in nature, and characteristically unassuming, this post does no more than promote a humble, but powerful addition to the English language.

As all grand things do, this revolution started small.  Actually, I was the only one to use the word for a good two months.  Or so I thought...  Deep in the confines of the public's mind, hidden from my sight, my ears deaf to its glorious ring, the "-age" was taking hold.  A grassroots movement of sorts, the revolution passed from one to another in an almost stealth-like fashion.

It wasn't until one evening, an evening that seemed like any other, that I passed through the cafeteria on my way back to my room.  Now, under normal circumstances I would have ate solemnly, alone, in front of this box of wires and silicon, but this night I was greeted by a friend who asked me to join him at his table.  I did so and we embarked upon a fairly normal conversation.  Another friend passed by and we asked her to join as well.  The conversation proceeded.  It wasn't more than 5 minutes later that my world changed forever.

Describing my dinner plate my first friend said "That's some serious saladage."  Not something you commonly hear, I thought for a moment that my ears were playing tricks on me.  "What did you say?" I said, skeptical of what I thought I heard.  "Saladage" he said.  Now, you can imagine the surge of emotion and confusion that shot through myself.  Still skeptical, I proceeded.  "Where did you pick that up from?  The -age."  "Your blog" he said.  All at once, the joy of the universe passed through my soul!  What just moments earlier seemed impossible was now actually happening.  My life long dream of creating a cultural revolution seemed to be taking root.  There had been failures in the past.  Dress socks with tennis shoes, basketball shorts and a polo shirt never caught on.  I tried to bring "rad" back to no success.  But this, no, this was different.  A once downtrodden citizen of the world was now on top of it!  

I calmed myself.  My other friend said "Yeah, I say it too."  If one was impossible, two, you can only imagine the mountains I felt I was ascending!  For the rest of our meal we traded "-age"s back and forth, challenging each other to be creative and laying the foundation of what has become a slang phenomenon.  

In the following months I have witnessed the growth of the "-age."  Though not catching like wildfire, it has infiltrated the halls of my school and beyond.

I can only hope that I can do just a small part in the growth of this revolution.  After all, I am just one man, trying to make the world a better place.

Special thanks to Kelly Csillam.  Without her help and guidance the revolution would not exist.