Sigmund Freud is considered the Father of Psychoanalysis, who's work continues to be the subject of great debate. One concept that evolved from Freud's theories is the "Freudian slip", or FS - a term he did not coin and one that I will loosely define as an error in a physical action, memory, or speech. When considering speech, its like expressing one's opinion without realizing it. Its as though the brain occasional losses the ability to corral misgivings, conflicts and such. And my brain is an expert at it.

That may be why I was the only employee at The News who noticed the name on a bottle of hand soap. The one syllable word wasn't anything special but given the atmosphere of a newspaper office, and my encounters with FS, it caught my eye.

Some may not be aware The News is staffed by women. I can hear the jokes now, but ask yourself - how many female-only businesses can claim without exception their work place is a congruent of creativity; a seamless production of word and pictures thoughtfully laid out and digitally stamped on 11 by 21 inches of paper week after week, month after month, year after year since 1972 and without anyone going to jail for murder?

Once in a while, the fast pace and pressures of deadlines can push one to say or do things that, well, rub another the wrong way. Ok, sparks fly but not often. That's when, after a particularly tumultuous week the hand soap showed up. The lavender tinted, chamomile scented gel was aptly named "Calming". FS! Enough said...

This curios phenomenon recently played out in front of a room filled with parents, teachers and administration. During a District School Board meeting, a member asked if the school district has 180 instruction days. Thinking back, maybe he should have waited to ask that question in the privacy of his peers, thereby limiting the risk of embarrassment. Nah! His remark has the Freudian slip trademark written all over it. In fact, I'm willing to bet money his linguistic blunder was not a blunder at all but rather a hidden message that was ultimately answered which in turn was sent to someone sitting in the audience who may have brought the subject up at some point in the immediate past. FS! Enough said...

I've pointed the finger at everyone else but I too have been held hostage to this mental mayhem. In 1985 a fragment of dark, repressed material disembogued from the ole' blonde belfry. My father, who was 60, had recently remarried and at the same time I was dating the Sergeant Major. He had not had the pleasure of meeting my dad or his wife therefore a proper introduction was necessary.

Such a basic tradition requires minimal preparation - if FS doesn't get in the way. The introduction went as follows: "Mac, this is Ray, my father." The two shake hands and repeat the typical "How do you do." Ok, I'm halfway there. "And this is his daughter Di." Did I mention my future stepmother is two years older then I? FS! Enough said...