Whatchamacallit

A buddy of mine (let’s call him Joe) uses the phrase “Whatchamacallit” over and over again in our conversations.  Every time he uses it I stop listening for a split second and focus on this mishmash of a word that just doesn’t make sense to me.  

Words interest me… I like words… but it pains me when I can’t understand them.  

I don’t consider it as such a distraction as I find the word curious.  What the hell is a whatchamacallit?  And why does he favor it so much….  I wondered if this turn of phrase was a local one to Long Island …my wife says her dad used it all the time also so maybe it’s a New York thing ???

To satisfy my curiosity I looked to Wikipedia for some answers. Here is what I found:

Definition # 1. Whatchamacallit is a placeholder used for something who’s name is unknown. 

I guess I can understand why Joey would use the term Whatchamacallit as a placeholder now that we both are getting older and the hinges on our memory doors are getting a rusty.   

However, this did not satisfy my curiosity enough.  Why not use placeholders like…aaaaahh or ooooooooohhh like everyone else?  

So on I searched…. And then I found the answer to my Whatchamacallit ….

Definition #2. Whatchamacallit is also the name of a candy bar made by Hershey Company. 

Anyone who knows Joey knows he has had a sweet tooth all his life… When we were stationed together in the Marines his locker was always a secret 7-eleven of sugary snacks.  He gained the nickname Cheeks after a while…. I’ll let you figure out why for yourself…. But as a hint…remember when Norm from Cheers replied to the question “Hey what’s shaking Norm?” And he would answer “All four cheeks & a couple of chins.”  

Joey’s locker list of hidden goodies included HoHo’s, Twinkies, Hersey Bars, Snow Balls…. just to name a few…  Some time ago I read a study the suggested that people with sweet dispositions also really like sweets.  The findings, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, show that people who like sweets are also more likely to be agreeable, friendly and compassionate than people who prefer other tastes, like bitter or spicy foods.

Joey is one of the most agreeable, friendly and compassionate people I know.  He is generous with his time as an organizer and volunteer for local charities and Veteran support organizations.  I believe I now know why Joey uses a candy bar name so often when he speaks…he likes to insert a little sweetness into his conversations… Joey loves to Whatchamacallit …..and he Whatchamacallit’s what he loves….