Musings of an Aging Nobody

When I was a freshman in high school I decided I didn’t want to take Spanish as my language requirement.  I thought, everybody takes Spanish, and I want to do something different.  No, I would take French instead.

Oh boy,  was that a mistake.

My French teacher was very nice and was very patient with me.  We eventually had an agreement.  I wouldn’t learn to speak French and she would not try to teach me.

Now in my aging nobody phase of life,  I am trying to learn to speak Spanish and wish I hadn’t insisted on being so contrary back in the day.

Because I am realizing how important it is now to be able to speak Spanish; at work, at church, on vacation.  The kicker was when my daughter came to pick me up at the airport in Fort Lauderdale and I asked my two-ish-year-old grandson what he was drinking in his little sippy cup:

“Agua,” he responded.

My wife and I have been trying to eat a plant-based diet since the beginning of the year.  Though my wife has done better with it than I have, I can honestly say I have been about 85% compliant.

But it’s tough sometimes, I have not had a homemade meatball since Christmas.

Me gusto Albondiga!

This is the eve of one of my favorite days of the year, the first Saturday in May.  As part of the festivities, usually I get some good bread, make Italian sausage with green peppers and onions, maybe a salad, and my favorite,  some homemade meatballs.

And I watch the races.

So in spite of my efforts to eat a plant-based diet the last few months, again this year, like other years…

Yo Tengo Que Tener… Un Albondiga.

I have to have…a meatball.

Tomorrow I am breaking the animal protein fast, at least temporarily.

Mañana me voy a comer una albóndiga!

 

Some might say that if you live here and English is not your first language,  you should learn to speak English.  I guess if you live in the USA and Spanish or any other language is your spoken language, then it might be in your best interest to learn English.

I have a friend, I will call him Pedro.  Pedro doesn’t speak English, he never learned.

He never had to.

His children speak Spanish, his grandchildren speak Spanish, heck even his great-grandson can speak some Spanish.

He is retired.

And he lives in a part of the country where most people speak Spanish or are bi-lingual.

I get it, I don’t blame Pedro, I wouldn’t learn to speak English either.  It’s hard to learn a new language when you get older.

But I might agree, learning to speak English could be beneficial for those starting out a new life in a new country.

The problem is, what happens in the meantime?

While they are learning?

And what do we English speaking folks do?

Because if those Spanish speaking folks trying to learn English are anything like me trying to learn Spanish…we are not having a meaningful conversation any time soon.

Because it’s hard!

We all need to be patient.

My goal is to learn a little and meet somewhere in the middle.

 

And I can’t wait to see my friend Pedro and to be able to speak a little Spanish with him.

I hope he likes meatballs.

So for now,

Buenas Noches!

Que tengas un buen día mañana!

 

 

Post Script:

For those of you who may not be as bi-lingual as I am:

Yo Tengo Que Tener Un Albondiga = I have to have a meatball

Me gusto Albondiga = I like meatballs

Mañana me voy a comer una albóndiga! = Tomorrow I am eating a meatball

Buenas Noches! = Good Night

Que tengas un buen día mañana =  Have a good day tomorrow

 

At least, I hope that is what I said…