I woke up at seven this morning thinking “Dang, I forgot to set the alarm” – I needed to be up at 6:30 if we’re going to do our regular Zoom workout class. But then I remembered it’s also our 41st anniversary, and wondered if I had unconsciously planned this so we could “sleep in” this morning.
As kids we would have called this “accidentally on purpose.” We might “forget” to go home at the time our moms had told us, or do that extra chore, or tell ourselves we couldn’t find the borrowed toy that we didn’t want to return just yet.
Do you remember this phrase from your childhood?
Can you recall doing anything “accidentally on purpose”?
Do you see any “accidentally on purpose” actions going on around you – personally, or in the greater scheme of things?
Trail Baboon 
Morning all. I’m trying to think of the last time I did something “accidentally on purpose”. One of my theories of life is “forgiveness is easier to get than permission.”. So most of my accidentally on purpose isn’t even accidentally.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Rise and Shine, Baboons,
I remember this phrase very well and seemed to refer to two things: 1. when you did something and denied your intention of having done it, or 2. When you really forgot or accidentally did something and it worked out really well that way. I don’t remember any precise incidents of this, but I sure remember the phrase.
When my son was little I said this once about something, and his reply was, “Nawww. That was not an accident. That was a purpose.”
LikeLiked by 4 people
Daughter frequently says she “accidentally” did any number of things. Ate too much, drank too much chocolate milk, played on her iPad too long. She doesn’t know the phrase “Accidentally on purpose” but that’s what it is.
LikeLiked by 4 people
I live with a bully. Most people would call her my conscience, but that’s too sweet a term for someone so cynical and unforgiving. Apparently other people have consciences that they can occasionally dupe. I’m not that lucky. My conscience is wise to every silly trick I use to excuse doing something indulgent. My conscience is also a bit crude. If I were to try to do something accidentally on purpose, my conscience would bark, “That shit don’t fly.”
LikeLiked by 4 people
Snort!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I know with our children there were many instances when annoying toys disappeared and none of us knew how that might have happened.
LikeLiked by 3 people
You reminded me of something I haven’t thought of for a while. When YA was still a toddler, she received an annoying noisy toy. It was a little phone and it had four buttons on it (one was a cow, one was a cat, one was a dog and one sounded like a phone.) When you picked up the handle and pushed one of the buttons, it made the corresponding sound. The animal sounds weren’t too bad but the phone sound was so realistic that every time she played with this toy, I got up to go answer the phone. This only lasted about three weeks before I took the batteries out. And then when it didn’t work I said “oh no it’s broken. You’ll have to make the sound yourself.” This actually turned out fine for her and she did that for quite a while and saved my sanity.
LikeLiked by 3 people
We obviously do not have very devious Baboons!
LikeLiked by 1 person
At least one Baboons is very busy, and outdoors planting her flower boxes and planters. Today I finish the pretty stuff and start on the garden.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Accidentally on Purpose
by Robert Frost
The Universe is but the Thing of things,
The things but balls all going round in rings.
Some mighty huge, some mighty tiny,
All of them radiant and mighty shiny.
They mean to tell us all was rolling blind
Till accidentally it hit on mind
In an albino monkey in the jungle,
And even then it had to grope and bungle,
Till Darwin came to earth upon a year
To show the evolution how to steer.
They mean to tell us, though, the Omnibus
Had no real purpose until it got to us.
Never believe it. At the very worst
It must have had the purpose from the first
To produce purpose as the fitter bred:
We were just purpose coming to a head.
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s a terrible poem.
LikeLiked by 2 people
But isn’t it nice to know that Robert Frost was capable of terrible poetry.
LikeLiked by 6 people
Anyone is capable of terrible poetry. One would expect Robert Frost to know the difference.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sheesh, Bill, cut him a little slack. Perhaps he was trying to demonstrate that even he could write doggerel.
LikeLike
A search also produces this:
Origin of “Accidentally on Purpose”
The phrase was used for the first time by Jose Francisco de Isle in his book The History of the Famous Preacher Gerund de Campazas printed in 1772. It goes: “Tell us what Modesty of Voice is, for you happened accidentally on purpose to drop this word, and I don’t rightly know what it signifies.”
LikeLiked by 2 people
I have heard this phrase a lot in my life. I think it sometimes applies in situations where one is working in a customer service position, and when a customer is being uncivil or uncooperative, the phone just happens to go dead suddenly. Who knows why that happens.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Yes, and the same thing can happen on any solicitation call…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Barb, I really like the piece of pottery on the table by the clock. I suppose it was placed there accidentally on purpose.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s the base of a lamp we “absorbed” when moving our friend W this last time – I accidentally… couldn’t find room for it in his new room…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Here’s a definition I found when, now, I’ve actually had time to look it up:
“Meaning: performing an action intentionally and pretending to either oneself or to the world that as an accident; as if by accident, but really by meaning.”
There was apparently a sitcom with this title around 2009 starring Jenna Elfman (anyone remember Dharma & Gregg?).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accidentally_on_Purpose_(TV_series)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I liked Dharma and Greg.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Very quiet day on the Trail. Is everyone working on their taxes?
LikeLiked by 3 people
We went to a play, an anniversary party, and visited friends! Almost like the old days!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Was the anniversary party for you and Kelly? Happy anniversary.
LikeLike
Update: Steve is in hospital with COVID. He is coughing and bored. I heard this from Molly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank god he was fully vaccinated. Hope he recovers quickly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my, that’s harsh. Yes, speedy recovery!
LikeLike
Oh no. He is not catching a break these days.
LikeLike
He probably got Covid from being in the hospital the first time. I’m thinking a hospital is the last place I would want to be these days. Fingers crossed For another recovery for Steve.
LikeLike