From: utzoo!decvax!microsof!uw-beave!cornell!vax135!ariel!hou5f!npoiv!harpo!seismo!rlgvax!rick
Newsgroups: net.nlang,net.singles
Title: posslq
Article-I.D.: rlgvax.1149
Posted: Mon Mar  7 14:33:08 1983
Received: Wed Mar  9 03:07:48 1983

			POSSLQ

Rich as it is, the English language does not have a word for everything.
For example, for years now it's been evident that there is not a good
word to describe, much less introduce - at a party, say - the person with
whom one is living. One's roommate, as it were, of the opposite sex with
whom one has not exchanged maritial vows. How does a young woman introduce
0eorge?  My lover, George?  No that's out.  My boyfriend?  Definitely dated.
My friend? My Fiance? No  friend is ambiguous, and fiance suggests an
engagement, which may or may be applicable.

We haven't had a good word for a partner in such a relationship - until now.
Someone found it, looking at some forms put out by the U. S. Bureau of the
Census.  There, as an acronoym for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living
Quarters" was the word P-O-S-S-L-Q Posslq, the very word we've been looking
for.  Precise, to the point, and so much more business-like than, say, honey
bunch or sweet potato pie.  You can say, without so much as a blush. "This is
Dede, my posslq".  Or, "Say hello to Franklin. We're posslqs."

Language, like nature, abhors a vacumm; and since there has been no good word
to cover this situation that used to be known as "living in sin," the folks
over at the Census Bureau are making what is sure to be an invaluable
contribution to our vocabulary - Posslq: person of opposite sex sharing
living quarters. So simple. So non-judgemental. And in its own way, sort of
poetic too.

		Come live with me and be my love,
		And we will some now pleasures prove
		Of golden sands and crystal brooks
		With silken lines and silver hooks.
		There's nothing that I wouldn't do
		If you would be my posslq.
		You live with me, and I with you,
		And you will be my posslq.
		I'll be your friend and so much more;
		That's what a posslq is for.

		And everything we will confess;
		Yes, even to the IRS.
		Some day on what we both may earn,
		Perhaps we'll file a joint return.
		You'll share my pad, my taxes, joint;
		You'll share my life - up to a point!
		And that you'll be so glad to do,
		Because you'll be my posslq.
		Come live with me and be my love,
		And share the pain and pleasure of
		The blessed continuity,
		Official posslqity;
		And I will whisper in your ear
		That word you love so much to hear.
		And love will stay forever new,
		If you will be my posslq.