This is a photograph (or maybe a painting, I can’t remember) I saw last year in an exhibition at the George Eastman House Museum in my hometown of Rochester, NY.  I stood there a while ruminating on the word and how we use it. And what each phrase means.

Why don’t you join me, and then, if you like, add your own “until” phrase in the Reply section.

Until the cows come home

For a very long time. Like, maybe forever. Or at least the rest of our lives. Which is actually forever, arguably.

Until hell freezes over

See above. Like forever. Never.

Until the 12th of never.

And see both entries, above.

I mean, do we like the concepts of forever and never or what? And if you’re near my generation you might remember the song, The 12th of Never. The first popular version was by Johnny Mathis, but just about everyone covered it, from Cher to the BeeGees to Cliff Richards and even Sandy Posey.

Until he was blue in the face

Lots of effort but no result. Unlike Mr. Wolf, who huffed and puffed until he blew the little pigs’ house down. Or like reasonable people trying to make Drumpf supporters see common sense and reality. Right. Until we are blue in the face.

Until my dying day

Well, yeah, forever again. Like, as long as I live, I’ll love you. Or until my dying date I’ll hate Trump. Stuff like that.

Until there was you

You usually means a soulmate, but could also be a best best friend, even a beloved pet. A life-changing being.

Until death do us part

We usually vow this at marriage but in the U.S. up to 50% of first marriages end in divorce. So…yeah. Maybe we should cut that out of our vows.

Can you think of any “until” phrases that I’ve missed? Let me know in the Reply section, below.

Until tomorrow

Maybe you’ll stop by tomorrow to read some other posts. Or maybe you’ll drop by my shop, to get a little thoughtful gift for a friend who’s ailing or heaing….find it right here .