Words

Twice in the last week I've tripped over the word schadenfreude, a wonderful German word that means taking pleasure in someone's misfortune. Or joy when you see someone who is down on their knees. It's rather like laughing when the person in front of you slips on a banana peel and slides half way across the floor.

Another person receives a chewing out, is denounced, or admits to some scandalous event or is accused of a less than glorious deed and you gloat.

It's the way Floridians respond when you say, " We're getting more snow and my roof is leaking." They reply, "It's seventy degrees and sunny today. I don't know why anyone suffers those winters."

My response to their schadenfreude, " Bet you can't go ice fishing."