Lots of us have had tough years personally before, but not in my lifetime have we as a human race had such a difficult year. If you’re like me, New Year’s held a new significance and you’re thankful to see 2020 in the rearview mirror. Hopeful for 2021, I tried writing about the activities I desperately miss and appreciate more since COVID-19. I hope this year to return to treating myself to a mani-pedi (I’m so relieved it’s closed toe shoe season!), getting a haircut every six to eight weeks instead of twice a year, going to lunch with friends and sitting close enough we don’t need walkie-talkies to converse, and window shopping. Somehow instead of being the hopeful post I intended, I found myself needing a break from thinking about COVID and the harsh realities it’s brought crashing down on our lives.
Also needing to laugh, I turned to a book I discovered in Glassboro, New Jersey visiting my son. When the title caught my eye, This Is Like, Totally a Quote Book, I had to open it. The dedication had me LOLing. “This book is dedicated to the eminent individuals whose words are parodied herein. We’d like to imagine each of them, living or dead, getting a chuckle out of it. We only wish we could invite them all to dinner. * That would be, like, totally an amazing party. *Except maybe Hannibal Lecter.”
The book takes famous quotes and inserts the phrase like, totally. Having been part of the generation that thought those words were so cool, I couldn’t stop reading. The next thing I knew I was reading quotes to my husband. So today, in hopes of making you smile and showing how adding two words can change a sentence, I’ve tweaked some famous quotes.
- The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in like, totally rising every time we fall.” -Nelson Mandela
- The way to get started is to like, totally quit talking and begin doing. -Walt Disney
- Life is what happens like, when you’re busy totally making other plans. -John Lennon
- To be or like, totally not to be. -William Shakespeare
- When you reach the end of your rope, like tie a knot in it and totally hang on. -Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but like, totally by the seeds that you plant. -Robert Louis Stevenson
- It is during our darkest moments that we must like, totally focus to see the light. -Aristotle
Here’s some modified western/cowboy sayings from grammar.yourdictionary.com.
- Some cowboys have like, totally too much tumbleweed in their blood to settle down.
- When you’re throwin’ your weight around, be like, totally ready to have it thrown around by someone else.
- Always like, totally drink upstream from the herd.
- Never ask how stupid someone is ‘cause they’ll like, turn around and totally show you.
- The only good reason to ride a bull is to like, totally meet a nurse.
And my favorite…
- Never like, jump a barbed wire fence totally naked.
I hope these changes to famous quotes made you chuckle. To be entered in the random drawing for today’s giveaway of the sparkly Peace sign and a signed copy of Home on the Ranch: Family Ties share a quote and like, totally parody it in This Is Like, Totally a Quote Book style. Here’s to 2021. May your year be blessed, and wishing you like, totally the best year ever!
Julie Benson has written five novels for Harlequin American, and her Wishing, Texas series is available from Tule Publishing. Now that her three sons have left the nest in Dallas, when she isn't writing, Julie spends her time working on home improvement projects, rescuing dogs, and visiting Texas wineries with her husband. Visit her at www.juliebenson.net.
My Quote of the day Is No One Is Perfect-That’s Why Pencils Have Erasers! Thank you for the Wonderful chance to win this giveaway!
Sarah, as a recovering perfectionist, I’m going to remember your quote! Thank you for stopping by today! Have a blessed day and stay safe.
She believed she could, but she was tired, so she went to bed.
denise
Denise, thanks for the early morning laugh! I love your quote. Thank you for stopping by today. Take care and stay safe!
Thanks for the smiles.
Like ask not what your country can do for you, but totally what you can do for your country.
Have a wonderful 2021.
Patricia, can you imagine JFK saying that famous phrase that way?! When I read this book, I was amazed how funny it made the most serious quotes. Thank you for the chuckle this morning. Have a blessed day and stay safe!
All the things I really like to do are either immoral, illegal or like, totally fattening.
Janine, thanks for stopping by today. I love the quote, but tweaking it makes it even funnier. And why is it the best things are bad for us? You’d think with all our scientific advances someone could fix that. Thank you for stopping by to chat. Take care and stay safe!
So many books, so little time.
Isn’t that the truth, Debra! That’s one of my New Year’s resolutions–to make a dent in my to be read pile. Thank you for stopping by the corral today. May your 2021 be blessed and safe.
I never met a horse I didn’t like!
Teresa, I love that quote. If I won the lottery, I’d buy a few acres north of where I live and have horses. Often one of my cowboy heroes says there’s no better way to relieve stress or sort out problems than on top a horse. I would love to have that option for stress relief! Thank you for chatting today. Take care and stay safe.
Fun post!
Caryl, I’m so glad you enjoyed it. The book really is funny. One of my favorites is a quote from Darth Vader to Luke Skywalker. “I am like totally your father.” Have a blessed 2021 and stay safe.
This Is Like, Totally a Quote Book style. Here’s to 2021. “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” This was a fun post today. Thanks for all the wonderful quotes and sayings.
quilting dash lady at comcast dot net
Lori, thank you for stopping by today. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. I figured everyone else could use a laugh as much as I did. Hopefully, 2021 will be much better than 2020 was. I keep thinking of the MAS*h episode that shows a couple New Year’s Eves. Col. Potter says something like here’s to the new year…and then ends with may be all be home before she’s over. I keep thinking here’s to 2021. May we be healthier, kinder, and more understanding of each other before she’s over.
Take care and stay safe.
I like, totally have a dream! This was fun post!!
Trudy, can you imagine MLK jr. saying it that way?! I’m always telling kids they need to read what they’ve written out loud before they turn it in. This is why. Often kids (and all of us) write the way we talk. I tell them when they read it out loud they hear things they wouldn’t catch otherwise.
I’m so glad the post made you smile. It made me do so when I wrote it. Thank you for stopping by the corral. Take care, stay safe, and may your 2021 be blessed.
There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation & like, totally The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.
Will Rogers
Tonya, Will Rogers quotes are usually witty, but adding the like, totally makes it even funnier! But isn’t it true. Some people just have to learn by trying everything (even stupid things) for themselves. My oldest was like that as a child. Or, he’d try something and it wouldn’t work 100 times, but he swore the 101st time we’d fall for it. One day I asked my middle son something that led to him saying he watched what his older brother and learned what not to do. Obviously, he was in the second group!
Thank you for stopping by and making me laugh. Have a blessed day and stay safe!
Julie- Your 2nd son learned a great deal by watching your oldest. That’s so funny, 101st attempt! Lol!!!
Smile it is your logo and brightens someone day.
Kristi, thank you for sharing that wonderful quote. I’ve never thought about the first part, but it’s so true! I know firsthand the second part is true. There have been days when someone’s smile and kind words have turned my day around. I think sometimes we forget how big a difference a little action can make.
Have a wonderful 2021 and stay safe.
The helping hand your looking for, is at the end of your arm.
Yvonne, thank you for sharing that reminder. I know sometimes I get so overwhelmed and frustrated I forget I have the power to change my situation. If I can’t actually change what has occurred, I can at least change how I think about or react.
Thank you for stopping by today. Take care and stay safe.
The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. Yes sir. walk everyday and accomplish any small thing.
Laini, that’s an excellent quote. Writers often say quit talking about the book and write it! I think for some of us, talking about something is a way to avoid acting. Your quote reminds me of another one I share with students when they’re overwhelmed with a task. I tell them I feel that way every time I start a new book and stare at the blank computer screen. I ask them, “How do you eat an elephant?” The answer? One bite at a time. So like your quote, if we simply accomplish one small thing, it makes the task easier.
Thank you for sharing and reminding us of that today. Take care and stay safe!
Julie, what an inspired and creative post! And what a wonderful book to find. Loved how you took quotes and “refurbished” them. And I’m hopeful for 2021, praying I can see my granddaughters more and up-close-and-personal, too.
Here’s my “refurbished” quote: Like, you can’t totally use up creativity. The more you use, the more you totally have. (Original quote from Maya Angelou)
Hebby, thanks for making me smile. I’m hopeful for the new year, too. I found it amazing how those two little words could change how quotes sounded. Words, even small ones and how we use them, matter. Can you imagine if this pandemic were happening without all the technology we have? Not only in terms of developing a vaccine and treatment, but in terms of staying connected with loved ones like your granddaughters. Children grow and change so fast. At least with the computer you can actually see them as you talk. It’s not much, but during these hard times, we have to celebrate what we can. Thank you for stopping by and stay safe!
Such interesting quotes… enjoying what everyone is sharing… can’t think of one myself though.
Colleen, no worries about not being able to think of a quote. I appreciate you stopping by even without a quotation. I hope you enjoyed the post. Have a blessed 2021 and stay safe.
I loved reading the quotes, Thank you for sharing them. I Love “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s learning to dance in the rain” Have a Great rest of the week and stay safe.
Alicia, I love that quote too. Thank you for reminding me of it. May your 2021 be blessed. Take care and stay safe.
Loved these quotes that made me laugh. Here’s my version of Scarlett O’Hara’s quotes. “As God is, like totally, my witness, I’ll never be hungry again.” Or…”After all, tomorrow is, like totally, another day!
Connie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Oh, Connie, thank you so much for the good laugh. Scarlett O’Hara saying those words is beyond funny. Thank you so much for stopping by today. Take care and stay safe!
Ha! I had fun looking for a good quote. This one is perfect for me — like, totally modified to fit your post.
I’d love to be a Pinterest mom. But it turns out I’m like, totally more of an Amazon Prime mom.
(side note — my grandmother used to charge me a quarter for every time I said “like” in a sentence, in an attempt to break me of the habit. I’m like, totally going to send her this book.)