Our granddaughter, Riley, has coined a great word that should immediately enter our lexicon because it is so descriptive, yet succinct. Riley has trouble with exact concept of yesterday so, she uses her own word—lasterday.

This is a perfect description for a phenomenon common to her grandparents and their friends. As I’ve written before, the past now falls into three categories: yesterday; when I was a kid; and the other day. And “the other day” can be anytime between yesterday and when I was a kid. Lasterday covers that entire span of time perfectly. It’s perfect for folks Riley’s age because they don’t need to measure time so precisely. It’s perfect for folks my age because so much has happened in my lifetime you’re lucky if I remember that it happened much less when. I mean, I still refer to the “turn of the century” as the turn of the 19^th century even though we are 21.5% through the 21^st century. “Where does the time go?” is a familiar refrain from old folks of every generation.

Furthermore, I’m often left with an uncomfortable feeling when forced to calculate exactly when some event took place because it almost always turns out to have taken place further into the past than I remember. Usually, much further. No more. From now on if it didn’t happen when I was a kid or yesterday, it will be simply be categorized as having taken place lasterday.

Thanks, Riley, but I have a question for you? How did you get to be five years old already? Guess that happened lasterday.