Geçmiş Olsun (May it Pass)

Geçmiş Olsun May it Pass

During our seemingly continuous visits to the doctor we regularly hear the phrase, geçmiş olsun, may it pass. Most often used to wish someone ‘get well soon,’ it seems a little funny to hear this for one of Lincoln’s simple check-ups—what is there to “get over” besides, perhaps, a few tears after a routine vaccination? And yet, when you don’t think of them too literally, Turkish’s polite niceties have a pleasantness about them. Phrases like geçmiş olsun have, in fact, endeared us to the language. They offer something to say in the awkward pause between patient and receptionist, they provide just the right turn of phrase in conversation with a friend, and they give us something to ponder…

1. How do we wade beyond the greeting-card-type triteness of the get well soon’s of English and geçmiş olsun’s of Turkish and really mean what we’re saying, even if it is to a stranger?

2. Thinking about getting over and moving on, what do we wish to pass and what do we not want to pass too quickly? Yes, it would be okay if we were over with poopy diapers, but we don’t want to hurry this cuddly baby stage. Big city traffic is something we could move on from, but it would be nice to marinate a little longer in one of the world’s most history-making cities amongst new friends and neighbors.

3. What about when the doctor visit, seasonal flu, difficult exam, or time of struggle has passed? How and when should we start thinking about “what next?”