America's oldest living language refuses to die.
"Not until I see that man take the oath," declared English in a recent interview. "After all I've been through, I'm not going until I see a real friend of English in the White House."
And, despite a long, rough road, it appears the Mother Tongue may have a dance or two left in her.
English first came to America in the late 16th century, sailing with British explorers to Virginia, making a permanent home in Jamestown 400 years ago. Since that time, English has undergone a great number of changes and challenges.
Barely a year after settling in Jamestown, English began to face competition from another newcomer, German, arrived in the colony in 1608 aboard the British ship Mary and Margaret. Indeed, with Hessian reinforcements brought by the British in the Revolutionary War, German threatened to eclipse English as the country's premier tongue.
English held on, through challenges from immigrants from all over Europe in the 19th century and newcomers from the world around since, as well as home-grown threats like the Beat poets of the 1950s and the rise of Valley Girl speech in the 1980s.
But perhaps the biggest threat English has faced in America was the presidency of George W. Bush, installed by the Supreme Court in late 2000. English remembers those dark days with a sigh. "Yeah, it was touch and go for a while there. I've always prided myself on my ability to adapt and survive, but that man was the toughest enemy any language could face."
Now, with a new president, famed for his oratorical skill, poised to take the White House in just nine days, English couldn't be happier. "It's exciting," English admitted. "It's like seeing the sun after years of night." English paused, momentarily Tongue-tied.
Finally, she looked up, brushed away a tear and concluded, "The American people have done a great thing, and this old language will always be grateful. Thank you."
Notes: Updated by bolding: I know English isn't the oldest language still in use in the country, but is a relative newcomer compared to Spanish and native tongues such as Hopi, Lakoka. News flash: I didn't actually interview a language for this diary, either.
This diary was inspired by the story of people like Gertrude Baines and Ann "ain't got no time to die" Nixon, who was singled out for mention by the president-elect in his November victory speech in Chicago. Long may you run.