I had an Airbnb guest tell me the other day that I ought to “keep my duvet covered” so I “wouldn’t have to wash it so often.”

My first reaction was, “Madame, when have you ever seen my duvet?”  And my second was, “I’ll have you know, Madame, that my duvet is pristine.  In fact, I’ll wash it just as often as I like!”

One of the reasons I make such a great Airbnb host is that, when talking with guests, I never say the first  thing that occurs to me – and very rarely the second.  <There are those Twitter-hounds in public life who could benefit from such a strategy – but I digress.>

Clearly in this case a quick trip to the dictionary was warranted.  Turns out, neither “toochis” nor “keister” was anywhere to be found under the heading of “duvet.”  I did, however, find it fascinating to discover the Holy Spirit at (1a) under “Comforter.”  You learn something new every day.