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One of my very favorite Dutch words is the word gezellig. There is no true English equivalent for the word, but if pressed, the word that would come closest is cozy. But it is so much more than that. Yes, sitting with your loved one in front of a crackling fire is gezellig. But so is that delightful friend of yours who seems to light up everyone around them. This person could be called gezellig.
Being in the hospital is definitely not gezellig, or ongezellig. However having your family and friends visiting you is gezellig. San Francisco is gezellig. Vallejo is decidedly not. Shopping at Trader Joe’s is gezellig. Shopping at Walmart is ongezellig. A rosebush is gezellig. Nettles don’t pass muster.
This fascinating adjective comes from the abstract noun, gezelligheid. People, places, activities, meals, and things can all be gezellig. Anything that gives you a warm feeling of happy well-being, conviviality and contentment are all equally gezellig.
Dutch culture has developed a word that goes right to the heart of why I love it so much. Take a listen to the Dutch Ambassador to Canada pronouncing and quickly explaining the word:
Over the years, I have come to love the work I do for Top Comments. It is a very special place to me. For starters, it is a place that has patiently let me better hone my writing skills. For that, I am eternally grateful. But more importantly it highlights the best Daily Kos has to offer — the people who populate it and make it thrive.
I believe in the work this website is doing and the community it has galvanized. Top Comments to me is gezellig. Every night, a core group of very kind people come to this watering hole without fear of getting a pie in the face. Any one reading tonight’s offering should hang around in comments for a spell. It doesn’t get much more gezellig at Daily Kos than right here.
Top Comments April 8, 2016:
From expatjourno:
MuneravenMN helps to bring both sides together a bit by providing the first known
"both sides do it"argument that concludes that it's OK if they do.
It's politics, folks. Let's all go out for beers when this is over.
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From Steven Payne:
Top Mojo April 7, 2016, courtesy of mik:
Top Pictures April 7, courtesy of jotter: