Even the grammar police ... do make mistakes.
The day has come when this loquacious and verbose high priest of the English language admits that he can also have unwanted slips of the tongue ... and that he can stumble also in a situation where he has to make excuses and use the much overused and battered cliché: " Tao lang po ... nagkamali rin ... in the most unexpected time and places."
In an impassioned discussion with us when we met in the mall accidentally (we talked about the latest political scandal - the flood project scams). Though he did not see that coming ... he showed us, like any ordinary mortal, that he can be human too - that he is capable of making conversation blunders just like anyone else.
After making everybody uncomfortable, what with his tendency to use the King's language (which made our ears bleed)... his word bank was copious and abundant (nay, it was vast and extensive), it dwarfed whatever little confidence or knowledge we had ... we'd rather be a willing listener than become an active but stammering debater.
He pounds his hand on the table to emphasize his thoughts and points ... and who could ignore his American accent that is just too hard to handle? As he rattled words (that seemed easy as ABC) ... it was paralyzing, we could not beat him at his own game. It was as though our tongues were frozen ... or tied. Or just timid to make boo-boos under his umbrella.
The discussion lasted for an hour, then the moment we had been waiting for arrived.
Obviously, he was angered by the news that floods were becoming a habit (it is almost like eating rice three times a day), and the government-sponsored flood projects scam was the main culprit. He was livid, nearly breathless ... and he was oblivious of the words that came out of his mouth.
"The Blue Ribbon Committee hearing was ANTI-CLIMATIC ... (when the CLIMATE and the floods are threatening the lives of the people) ... why drag the investigation and make it snail-paced when you can name names (senators and congressmen) right away?"
Anti-climatic was heaven-sent. Was this the opening we needed ... to taunt him or make him go down of his high horse? If we let it pass ... we will miss the opportunity of a lifetime to rub his verbal gaffes in his face.
If we confront him with his mistake ... we don't want to sound rude. We decided to do it anyway because we are curious as to what his reaction will be.
"I think what you mean is ANTI-.CLIMACTIC ...", I started teasing him.
His lips swelled up, and his face turned crimson-red.
"You don't have to be ashamed, my friend. Anybody can make mistakes (even to the syntax sheriff like you. ... It can happen to anyone ... nobody is exempt.
Obviously, you were upset ... and emotions at times distract the best of you and your train of thought." I consoled him.
"OO naman. Tao lang po. Pwede ring magkamali", was all he said.
