Bringing Back Bandit
May 15th, 2006
Bandit is a word that still fires me up. Could it be ready for a new life?
Last week was particularly bandit for me. It involved frantic packing in Austin, a cross country drive with my husband and dog, tornados in Louisiana, and squeaking into Greenville minutes before we were scheduled to close on our new home. Bandit was the extra push that kept me going through the miles. This is not a word I see often, but one that was brought back to my attention recently in 2 ways:
(1) Re-viewing the 1986 classic Top Gun on the big screen courtesy of Austin’s Sinus Show. There is an oft-overlooked notice across the pegboard improbably located in the locker room shower that reads “Have a Bandit Day”. I only noticed it after the 20th or so time of seeing the movie, but I started wondering what it meant and wanting to have one myself.
(2) Finding one of my husband’s burned CDs in my car during the 20 hour drive and hearing Jerry “Snowman” Rice sing the theme to the 1977 Smokey and the Bandit (lyrics) – potentially the greatest long distance driving song ever - for the first time in many years.
Evidently, I am not alone in thinking that bandit has desirable connotations because is has been used for all sorts of brands including fishing lures, motorcycles, wood-chippers, and a record company. The dictionary definition of bandit is limiting, but the emotional lure is powerful so I’d like to share the old definition, propose a new one, and suggest we bring it back.
ban·dit (b
n
d
t)
Current: n.
- A robber, especially one who robs at gunpoint.
- An outlaw; a gangster.
- One who cheats or exploits others.
- Slang. A hostile aircraft, especially a fighter aircraft.
Proposed: n., v., adj.,
- To push boundaries of what is acceptable - a lovable pusher of boundaries
- One who lives by his own rules, questioning societal norms
- Slang. Challenging, exciting task, requiring one to creatively rise to the occasion
So, bring it back! Do something bandit this week and tell us about it or let us know what word puts fire in your engine.
Other posts by Virginia.
Squegee says:
I had a bandit moment this morning about 3am. I woke up to that weird hurking sound. You know the one. First, it’s like, what is that? Then, the realization occurs: OMG, the dog is vomiting! That’s when I spring out of bed like I’m 10 years younger, grab a newspaper, and dive! Landing just in time to watch juicy chunkies fly out of my dog’s mouth and land safely on something I can throw away. Thus, allowing me to return to peacful slumber and not having to clean dog puke out of the carpet. Yes, Virginia, I have had a bandit day!
May 15th, 2006 at 8:19 amMay says:
My daughter’s nickname is “el bandito” because she is a total bandit. So it’s a part of daily life for me…
May 16th, 2006 at 2:52 pmdoc dave says:
i, too, jumped out of my chair ( on perhaps the 100th viewing of top-gun ) when i saw the same “Have a Bandit Day”.
December 16th, 2006 at 5:23 pmand i, too, now want to have them EVERY day. BUT, i still don’t understand what the definition was in the context of the fighter pilots’ locker room. there’s a book out- Bogeys and Bandits: The Making of a Fighter Pilot. maybe i have to buy it to get the meaning. UNLESS you can help me.
Have a Bandit Night !!
doc dave