OMG and BJ

My friend Howard Jacobsen referred to his friend the art critic Robert Hughes and in eulogy talked about how he laughed like Jove.

I must say at this point that I have never met Mr Jacobsen. I am his friend because I read his essays and I feel that if he and I ever met we could become friends. In fact Mr Jacobsen says that while he had met Mr Hughes he wasn’t a close personal friend either.
Admiration does presume kinship

Anyway the word Jove got my attention.
It is a word quite forgotten to the generation of twitterati who abbreviate almost every emotion.

Oh My God which may at one time have been a lament, or a remembrance of the creator or a way of acknowledging gratitude has now been abbreviated . This of course removes any tinge of possible blasphemy in taking the Lord’s name in vain.

OMG!
We cry and in those three letters,as short as the eponymous spelling of Jehovah,YWH, awe and surprise, both pleasant and unpleasant is expressed.
The idea of divinity , present or recalled, is absent.
Of course in times past, because it was somewhat verboten to use the word God except in fervent prayer, a Roman substitute was used for the same purpose . Jupiter or Jove came in handy . And “By Jove” was used by anyone ,even those without a Classic education.
Batsmen bowled by a splendid ball would say ‘By Jove’ in both surprise and admiration of the bowler. A young man’s fancy caught by the fleeting glimpse of beauty may have exclaimed similarly.Or just a poet stunned by a rainbow, sunset or just daffodils a la Wordsworth may have been inspired to such outburst.

Today the ancient Gods are forgotten even in exclamation.
Maybe I can revive them.

BJ!
I could cry as I spot a rare red-necked plover( if such an avian exists)or if I was moved by a fabulous Messian move in La Liga.

BJ!
I think this may catch on.

I would not however be able to use it as declamation about a beautiful woman as I think I may be misunderstood.