I haven't laughed hard in a long time. At least 3 months, probably longer. I mean laughing so hard that you gasp for air. I miss that.
A couple days ago James and I went to the Carrefour. The "fancy" grocery store/target here in Georgia. We had several amusing incidents including a butchered (pun intended) English/Georgian conversation with the (ha, ha) butcher about a pot roast. They were calling every employee over to try and figure out what a pot roast was, and I was even showing them a nice photo of it on my iphone. Carrots, potatoes and all.
I think they finally figured out what it was (we'll know for sure on Sunday) after we all had a good laugh and the lady at the counter said, "I hope you two come back a lot." This was nice considering I usually feel like they are all annoyed with me in that store when I ask for things in English and they don't understand. Laughter and pictionary are apparently the true international language and the way to people's hearts.
This was normal laughter.
Later in the grocery trip we noticed huge bulk barrels of about 12 different kinds of cookies that appeared to be homemade fig newtons. Personally they gag me with a spoon (or without), but James loves them. So he went over to engage the bulk food lady in a conversation about said cookies to find out why there were so many varieties of fig newtons.
I stood back a few feet watching. I noticed that whenever James is in the act of engaging and "learning" from someone culturally, he hunches over to get at their level and makes a super engaged face, and starts doing all kinds of signs with his hands. It is as if that fig newton conversation were deciding the fate of the world. It is James at his diplomatic best. I wish I could show you. But I'm too lazy to make a video right now and upload it.
I didn't laugh much at the time, but when I got home that night and we were talking at bed time, I remembered the interaction, and I jumped out of bed to imitate him in "engaged, learning" mode. i.e. I am trying to show you exactly how interested I am in what you have to tell me - I am a person who loves learning. For some reason when I was hunched over, wiggling my fingers and looking super engaged I could not stop laughing. I realize this is probably not even remotely funny to you. But it was hysterical in the moment. And every time I thought of it for the next 24 hours I died laughing.
The actual event isn't important...just the laughter. I am sad or lonely a lot right now. Laughing that hard reminded me how much I miss body rocking laughter. I need to make it happen more in my life.
A couple days ago James and I went to the Carrefour. The "fancy" grocery store/target here in Georgia. We had several amusing incidents including a butchered (pun intended) English/Georgian conversation with the (ha, ha) butcher about a pot roast. They were calling every employee over to try and figure out what a pot roast was, and I was even showing them a nice photo of it on my iphone. Carrots, potatoes and all.
I think they finally figured out what it was (we'll know for sure on Sunday) after we all had a good laugh and the lady at the counter said, "I hope you two come back a lot." This was nice considering I usually feel like they are all annoyed with me in that store when I ask for things in English and they don't understand. Laughter and pictionary are apparently the true international language and the way to people's hearts.
This was normal laughter.
Later in the grocery trip we noticed huge bulk barrels of about 12 different kinds of cookies that appeared to be homemade fig newtons. Personally they gag me with a spoon (or without), but James loves them. So he went over to engage the bulk food lady in a conversation about said cookies to find out why there were so many varieties of fig newtons.
I stood back a few feet watching. I noticed that whenever James is in the act of engaging and "learning" from someone culturally, he hunches over to get at their level and makes a super engaged face, and starts doing all kinds of signs with his hands. It is as if that fig newton conversation were deciding the fate of the world. It is James at his diplomatic best. I wish I could show you. But I'm too lazy to make a video right now and upload it.
I didn't laugh much at the time, but when I got home that night and we were talking at bed time, I remembered the interaction, and I jumped out of bed to imitate him in "engaged, learning" mode. i.e. I am trying to show you exactly how interested I am in what you have to tell me - I am a person who loves learning. For some reason when I was hunched over, wiggling my fingers and looking super engaged I could not stop laughing. I realize this is probably not even remotely funny to you. But it was hysterical in the moment. And every time I thought of it for the next 24 hours I died laughing.
The actual event isn't important...just the laughter. I am sad or lonely a lot right now. Laughing that hard reminded me how much I miss body rocking laughter. I need to make it happen more in my life.
I remember the difficult adjustment I had going from career to home alone most of the time feeling like I'd been tossed into the deep end of the pool without knowing how to swim when it came to all the new baby stuff. I was not isolated geographically but didn't know how to reach out to those around me. Remembering how tough that was in spite of the resources I had makes me feel anxious for you as your circumstances make the transition all the more challenging. I wish I could do more than offer encouragement. Love you.
ReplyDeleteI think you have forgotten times we have laughed. What about Olga and her car and us and the wrong door?
ReplyDelete