Daily Cascade

Fine Mess

Prompt: "Fine Mess"
Oliver Hardy often said to Stan Laurel in several Laurel and Hardy films, "This is another fine mess you've gotten us into." What is your definition of a fine mess and what kind of images does the word "mess" bring into your mind?

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I remember Oliver saying those words to Stan so well, and if for nothing else, but it is because my grandmother was a fan of the duo. During those pre-TV days, she never missed going to the movies if an Oliver-Hardy flick was being shown. And, lucky me, because their fun was "clean," she would take me with her. And they charged my seat half price, too!

Looking back, I can now see that "fine mess" was a catchy and ironic phrase with humor hiding in its nature, in the juxtaposition of the two words. Hardy used them when in a troubling situation.

The word mess has a chaotic nature and points to a disorder of some kind, be it in a physical space or a complicated life situation. In addition, it can describe a person's emotional and mental state of being overwhelmed and in a bind due to complex and problematic situations.

Come to think of it, in its other uses, mess can carry several different meanings. Remember "hot mess," "making a mess of things," "messing around," "Mess Hall," or "messing with someone"? In many situations, "mess" may also allude to a scandal, corruption, social injustice, joking with or about people, pointing to a time leisurely spent, and even a public dining room.

All these ways of using the word "mess" show that "mess" does not only carry negative meanings. Imagine describing a child's play area as a mess, which I know well about since I raised two rambunctious boys. The word "mess," therefore, is a flexible, adaptable word that is full of many nuances.

Now, did I make a mess of this entry or not! Well, at least, I answered the prompt, didn't I! This is because this blog is my very own "fine mess."