My Prowess with Words, 1

      When I was growing up, I read the word "bedridden" as [be-DRID-en].  Why?  I haven't the faintest idea except I read it that way the first time I saw it, and it was that way for years after.  I knew it was a more negative than positive word . . . connotations of "ridden" and "driven" came through to me.  Somebody was in dire straits as I saw it, and overarching notions of "bewitched" and good "riddance" confirmed to me that I understood this word.  Hah!