Author Archives: Patrick Cleland

Calling Fives

This custom is similar to calling “shotgun” on the front seat of a car in that it has to do with seating. When you are in a group of people with limited seating and you have to leave your seat, you can “call fives” on this seat. This means that for the next five minutes, no one can your seat. If you come back within these next five minutes, you can reclaim your seat. Although this rule is observed among many young people today and is made to eliminate debates, it can often lead to disputes as to whether or not five minutes have passed.

“Fives/Fists”–Folk Game

This game is played between four or more people. Everyone stands in a circle  and starts with their fists extended towards to the center. One person takes the first turn and indicates by making a throwing motion with their fist. When this happens, the person whose turn it is tries to guess how many fingers will be extended. During this turn, every other player has the choice of either keeping their fist closed or extending five fingers. This makes the number of fingers in the circle somewhat random. If the person whose turn took the turn is right, they are out of the game. So, the last one in the game loses. An extra rule that is occasionally instated involves celebrating after getting out. If you high five someone else or obviously celebrate in any other way, you are back in the game. This can lead to loud, intense games where people go from very happy about getting out to very upset about getting put back in.

“Two shakes of a dead sheep’s tail”

This proverb is used to mean a short amount of time. Saying “I’ll be there in two shakes of a dead sheep’s tail” means that you will be there quickly. The informant first heard this proverb from his mother when he was five years old. His mother is from Georgia, and the informant always believed that this was a Southern proverb. It was memorable because he could never figure out why it had to be a sheep’s tail, let alone a dead’ sheep’s tail. There is nothing about dead sheep’s tails that lend them to being shaken fast, making this proverb somewhat absurd and silly. The saying seems to have gone out of style, so the people who use it are usually older. It is also a very motherly saying, used to reassure impatient children that dinner will be ready soon, or that they will leave soon, etc.

F.I.D.L.A.R.

This acronym stands for “Fuck It Dog, Life’s A Risk”. The informant first heard this when she was around 12. It was a popular phrase among the skater kids in Malibu, where the informant grew up. In fact, it was so popular that a local punk band from the area used it as their name. This band has since become popular on a national scale, giving prominence to the saying. The informant maintains, however, that the saying existed before the band and that the band merely adopted it.

This saying seems to be popular mostly amongst teenagers in the los Angeles area, which makes sense given the sentiment of the phrase. Teenagers are known to go through a rebellious period and a saying like this, which is essentially justification for making a rash decision, is perfect for this demographic. The informant says she has never heard it used it outside of Los Angeles and there is a certain pride attached to it being local to that area.

Blood Wings

The informant is a military veteran who served for thirty seven years. He retired a two star major general, a veteran of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. His decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Silver Star Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart Medal with oak leaf cluster. He is a Master Parachutist and served in the 503rd Parachute Infantry and the 187th Regimental Combat Team.

This is a tradition practiced by the Army Rangers and it occurs upon completion of Ranger school. The informant recalls that once he had made the required amount of jumps out of a plane and fulfilled basic training requirements, he received this a pin similar to the one pictured below.

Airborne Badge

Protruding from the other side of the badge, opposite where the two stars are located, are  two sharp rods which are meant to go through the uniform and be inserted into a safety catch on the inside of the shirt. When the informant was first presented with the badge, however, these safety catches were not used. Instead, the rods went through the uniform and the officer who put the pin on would strike the pin with his palm so as to puncture the skin, giving the new member “blood wings”

This tradition has been around for a long time, according to the informant, and is very meaningful. It occurs at a liminal moment, when one goes from being a trainee to an  acknowledged Army Ranger. It is the culmination of  great deal of hard work. The wound inflicted will leave a scar, symbolising the permanace of this position. Now, if they are ever questioned as to the legitimacy of their status as a Ranger, they can show the scars. Also, it makes the moment of graduation, which is a happy one, more memorable. When they see the scars, it will remind them of the moment they graduated. It is also a test of discipline and will power to withstand the pain of being jabbed in the chest by two sharp rods.