You know…languages are difficult. Especially if your name is Richard and you can’t hear the difference between the sound that e makes and the sound that a makes.
But, oh the words he knows in Polish—he’s so proud of! And he uses them. As much as possible. Because he knows them so well. Or so he thought.
And this is how the story goes…
Once upon a time there was a man named Richard and his wife, Brooke (that’s us!). And they had been living in a foreign land, called Poland, for nearly 11 years. It was summer, and they were enjoying a wonderful meal at a restaurant by a lake—enjoying the sun, the surroundings, and the food.
And that’s when it happened. Our food was brought out, and my husband asked for it!
Yep…Salt and Breasts, please!
Now, normally I don’t pay attention to the little things. After all, we have all heard the expression—don’t sweat the small stuff. But, for the first time in nearly 11 years, I stopped and listened when my husband made an “innocent” request to the poor, unsuspecting server.
“Salt and Breast, please!”
Yep. It’s what he said.
And, so, I looked at him and said, “What did you say?”
He repeated his request, “Sol i piers, prosze bardzo.” He is a very polite gentleman. Or should we now scratch that word, “Gentleman”? Hmmm…
I looked at him and said, “Do you know what you asked for?”
The look he gave me was priceless…almost like saying, “Duh?! I’m not stupid!”
“Yes, of course. Salt and pepper.”
Shaking my head in great amusement I replied, “Um…no. You asked for ‘Salt and Breast’.”
And, of course, that’s when we had a very detailed language lesson between the word “Piers” and “Pieprz” in Polish.
Needless to say, the lovely waitress DID NOT bring us salt and breasts. And so I had to get up and go to the counter and ask, using the correct words, for “Sol i pieprz, prosze bardzo.” Which I got and returned to the table. To an amused and slightly embarrassed husband. And to our food.
Now that I think back over the last nearly 11 years, I see it clearly…We were never brought our salt and pepper. Obviously, the reason being, he wasn’t asking for “Pepper” was he?
I guess I should be glad they never returned with a large-breasted woman holding a single jar of salt. Haha!
Humor with humility, folks. That’s how we live our lives.
To wrap up our humbling lives—someone once asked me, “How did you never hear what he asked for before that time?”
It’s a good and fair question, and this is all I could say, “You know, sometimes we tune out the every day stuff. And it must be what I did.”
So, as you enter 2014, I would also like to remind you of this…
Perhaps you, too, should pay a little more attention to the simple “every day” stuff that life is made up of.
It could save you a whole lot of embarrassment.
On the other hand, it could also cost you a priceless story.
Happy 2014’s Eve, friends!
Go, and order correctly.
And 2 Makes Crazy 