Have you ever wondered where the expression “on the wagon” comes from? According to Random House, on the wagon (or its earlier version “on the water wagon”) referred to the horse-drawn water carts used during the late 19th century to wet down dusty roads. This was also a time of active crusading to close down breweries and saloons, the pre-Prohibition period. Thus, those who abstained from alcohol would say “I’m on the water cart;” in other words, they would sooner climb aboard a water cart to quench their thirst than break their abstinence pledge. Eventually Americans substituted the word “wagon” for “cart” and the expression remains popular more than a century later.
Why the sudden interest in wagon history and American idioms?
Days Elaine was on the wagon: 69
Days since Elaine fell off the wagon: 8
Diet Cokes consumed since the “Thud”: 6
I’m not sure what to say … I’m sorry? Explain how my “one day at a time” approach wasn’t enough to sustain me during a long car ride home last weekend? Confess that I’m not ready to hop back on the wagon just yet?
I really don’t know what to say … But I do know I feel accountable to you, particularly given all the support and encouragement you gave me in September.
I’m sorry if I let you down.
11-18-2008 08:11:33
Elaine, you haven’t let me down. I think it’s great that you could avoid a Diet Coke for 69 days. By the way, sometimes I think the “One Day at a Time” philosophy isn’t enough. Sometimes, I think it’s “One Hour at a Time” or “One Meal at a Time” or “One Car Ride at a Time.” If you want to go back on the wagon
again, you could remind yourself why you stopped drinking Diet Cokes in the first place. By the way, I think you should pat yourself on the back for trying this and also for losing weight, as you mentioned in a blog on my Web site. Give yourself a break and a pat on the back.
11-18-2008 08:28:01
Elaine, it’s definitely all about you and not us. You have not let us down. We are not judging you. I don’t even know you! I am surprised though that after 69 days you could stand the taste of it. Also, wasn’t your body retaining less water?
BTW, I love learning about phrase origins.
11-18-2008 10:33:14
Gosh, I think there are far worse sins than Diet Coke. But I missed the post on why you tried to stop, so I don’t mean to imply that I am supporting your backslide. My husband drinks the stuff by the gallon — so maybe he needs a 12-step program…
11-18-2008 17:24:08
Sometimes abstinence is not always the best way. The good news is, you broke your daily habit. If you really enjoy DC (vs DP, which you really should be drinking), have it every once in awhile as a special treat.
Now, you haven’t given up wine have you?
11-19-2008 11:49:32
That’s 69 successful days! Celebrate that. If I remember correctly you were drinking several a day, and your average now is less than one a day. Celebrate that. The proverbial glass is half full, not half empty. It might be easier to make the choice fresh each day, with the knowledge that some days you will choose to have a soda and some days you will choose not to. I am still working, each day, to drink less coffee. And some days are better than others.
11-23-2008 08:59:28
It’s taken me almost a week to have the guts to go back and look at the comments on this post. I shouldn’t have worried so …
Thank you so much for your encouraging comments, which are helping to derail the guilt-trip I’ve been on. I will carry your words with me as I maintain my greatly reduced # of DCs or even contemplate going back to abstinence. (It’s true – I do think about the things people write on this blog during the course of my week.)
Funny, several years ago, I gave up alcohol for more than a year. No particular reason, just wanted to see what it was like. That was a piece of cake compared to Diet Coke.