My Uncle Lowell, like many in our family, loved to use idioms and slang. He often expressed surprise with, “I swan.” He occasionally changed that to:

• “I’ll swan.”
• “I swanny.”
• “Well, I swan.”
• “I declare.”

All meant the same.

Uncle Lowell’s “I swan” meant something happened he did not expect.

He may or may not have known it also meant the same as “I swear.”

Like most of us, Uncle Lowell preferred pleasant surprises:

• News of a new grandchild
• Gifts out of the blue
• Contact from an old friend

Unfortunately, he also received unpleasant surprises:

• Deaths of friends or family members
• Bad accidents
• Weather related crop losses

However, Uncle Lowell was a tough cookie.

He often laughed through his troubles by:

• Telling tall tales
• Playing jokes on anyone around him
• Giving children funny nicknames

Singing also helped him through hard times. I can still hear his deep bass remind us to have a little talk with Jesus.

If Uncle Lowell knew about this post, I have a feeling he would respond, “Well, I swan. Who ever heard of such a thing?”

“Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come” (Psalm 71:18 NIV).

Did you have family members like my Uncle Lowell? Please comment below.

Thanks to Stacey Marcum and Gail Gosser for the suggestion. Special thanks to Stacey for the photo.

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