S.I.F.A.: A Rip-Roaring Way To Start Your Week

I was in a local lighting store, searching for those brass strips of pinpoint lights you can angle above shelves and bookcases for ambient lighting, and I was being helped by an older man with an upright bearing and closely clipped hair. When he went into the back room to research something, his other co-workers behind the counter started debating the all important topic of employees anywhere: what should we do for lunch? When the man helping me returned, they pulled him into their conversation, asking him if he would go and bring food back for them. He turned to one and said, "You aren't a S.I.F.A., are you, Theresa?"


I had to ask. "What is a S.I.F.A.?" A wry smile twisted at the corner of his mouth, and he said, "I really couldn't tell you, beyond the fact it was an expression we used when I was in the military." "I've been exposed to many military acronyms, growing up in Washington," I told him, "so please tell me as I'd love to learn a new one." "Well," he said. "Whenever someone was being demanding and trying to force their viewpoint or needs on you, we would call that person a seefah (S.I.F.A.). "In other words, they were a self-inflicting flaming asshole..." Chuckling, he turned to the woman next to him and added, "....of course, not you, Theresa."

I suppose we all have seefah's in our lives. If you see one today, hand them a match: