Goodbye 2008

I was listening to Geoff Nunberg at NPR talking about
the word of the year.
He chose "Joe".
He went through the history of the use of Joe, the common man, GI Joe, good ole Joe, Say it ain't so Joe, Joe six pack, Joe blow... Fascinating.
So I asked myself what would be my word of the year?


epistemology?
integration?
heterodoxy?
infrastructure?
all these words surfaced because of investigations into my thesis topic. But one particular word came to mind in the latter part of this year that speaks more powerfully to me than any other:

re.lief –noun

1.	alleviation, ease, or deliverance through the removal of pain, distress, oppression, etc.

2.	a means or thing that relieves pain, distress, anxiety, etc.

3.	money, food, or other help given to those in poverty or need.

4.	something affording a pleasing change, as from monotony.

5.	release from a post of duty, as by the arrival of a substitute or replacement.

6.	the person or persons acting as replacement.

7.	the rescue of a besieged town, fort, etc., from an attacking force.

8.	the freeing of a closed space, as a tank or boiler, from more than a desirable amount of pressure or vacuum.

9.	Feudal Law. a fine or composition which the heir of a feudal tenant paid to the lord for the privilege of succeeding to the estate.

10.	Literature. a. a distinct or abrupt change in mood, scene, action, etc., resulting in a reduction of intensity, as in a play or novel.

11. on relief, receiving financial assistance from a municipal, state, or federal government because of poverty or need.