It’s interesting to hear what different people think of when I mention the phrase “reckless passion” Of course, I love the Winter Olympics at Torino having the tagline “passion lives here!” It’s great! It captures the Italian zest for life wonderfully!

Mediterranean people get it when I say “reckless passion”. Eastern people get it. Southern people get it. Latin people especially get it. New Englanders don’t get it… but they want it

Here’s what Webster has to say about it:

Main Entry: pas·sion
Pronunciation: ‘pa-sh&n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin passion-, passio suffering, being acted upon, from Latin pati to suffer — more at PATIENT
1 often capitalized a : the sufferings of Christ between the night of the Last Supper and his death b : an oratorio based on a gospel narrative of the Passion
2 obsolete : SUFFERING
3 : the state or capacity of being acted on by external agents or forces
4 a (1) : EMOTION passion is greed> (2) plural : the emotions as distinguished from reason b : intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction c : an outbreak of anger
5 a : ardent affection : LOVE b : a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept c : sexual desire d : an object of desire or deep interest

As with many things in life, it’s always the obsolete entry that speaks volumes.

… oh well, and while I’m at it, I may as well toss out:

Main Entry: reck·less
Pronunciation: ‘re-kl&s
Function: adjective
1 : marked by lack of proper caution : careless of consequences
2 : IRRESPONSIBLE <reckless charges>
synonym see ADVENTUROUS