Origins of Tom Foolery...

So, I’ve been thinking about the phrase Tom Foolery and think I now know from whence it originated. Warning: this is not (I repeat NOT) a well researched (or researched at all) paper. It is my definition of a phrase… kind of like my theory last year why spring wouldn’t come. No facts to support my supposition but entertaining never the less.

So we all know Tom, Dick and Harry, or Cat guy 2, 3 and 4, or bf A, B, and C. Call ‘em what you like. But any way, Tom is first bf in the line but the split occurs. The relationship has been mourned and the time has come to move on. Along comes Dick. He’s everything Tom wasn’t and just so much better. He becomes the bf…for a bit. Then while he remaining Dick (too many puns, too little time), he becomes the ex-bf. In a moment of weakness, drunkenness, sheer stupidity – pick one or all three, you call/text/email Tom. You manage to become friends or at least remain on friendly terms.

But then along comes Harry and well, Harry is just all that and a bag of chips – Grandma Utz Handcooked…absolutely the best, most addictive chips on the face of the planet. So delicious. So delectable. You eat the whole bag when you know you shouldn't! Oh! where was I? Yes he is as yummy as those chips. And, life is fabulous! Then, IT occurs. Doesn’t really matter what IT is. IT could be the realization that Harry isn’t Hairy after all, but a bald man with a cheap toupee. IT could be that Harry has the emotional depth of a teaspoon and you’ve finally figured out it wasn’t just him moving slowly; he had made it to the bottom of his emotional well and it wasn’t even deep enough for your big toe. IT could be that Harry not only lacks conjones, but is the biggest puss you ever met, and for some reason, you had managed to over look that glaringly pathetic characteristic… until now. Any way, IT occurs, and Harry becomes the Hairless ex. This is the time when you are ripe for Tom Foolery.

“Tom, how’s it going? What have you been up to? Seeing anyone? Want me to fly across the Atlantic to come see you? That would be great!”

HELLO!!!! What are you thinking? Tom was kicked to the curb for a very good reason. Just because you can’t remember it now (time has passed, retarded boys have come and gone, memory of a goldfish) does not mean there wasn’t a good reason to dump his ass in the first place. But NOOOOOOO, you start this Tom Foolery. Oh, oh, but he writes the most charming emails and his voice is so very, very sexy. Yes, these are all the things that made you swoon in the first place. But, these things couldn’t over come what made you dump him…what was that? Dang, wish you could remember!

Yup, that’s the Tom Foolery. Instead of moving forward, looking for Mr. Right, you go back to Tom, fool around with him. You particpate in this foolery until you remember or find out again about his moodiness, wussiness, lack of emotions, what ever it was that made you move on!

Don’t feel bad sister, we’ve all participated in Tom Foolery. Why do you think there’s a name for it?!