Oopa!

March 22, 2013

As I entered the movie theatre the woman ahead of me held the door open and “Hi!” blurted out of my mouth versus “Thank you!” Such a strange process the brain goes thru in automatic translation.

Often giggle and chortle at my errors, not recalling a word in English and continue to dream in Portuguese. When I talk to myself I also realize it is in Portuguese. “OOPA!” came bursting out of my mouth and a friend asked if that was a bad word, couldn’t even explain what it means but something to the effect “Oh my!” in response to the cat knocking something off the shelf and racing off.

Bananas and avocados are bland and tasteless in the States, I crave the fresh cheeses and wake up feeling deprived of hot fresh nutrition-less rolls from the bakery down the street. Pipo is missing me, Theo sends FB messages constantly on the dog’s behalf. Hear he is pacing the floor in front of my old bedroom door, waiting for his daily walk to the Dunes and beach. In the snow and cold and the simple fact that my foot is not as stable, I walk much less and miss Pipo and the Campeche neighborhood.

I am grateful for the sunshine and warmer days (it’s 32 degrees!) in Minnesota. Happy to be wearing one less layer around the house and knowing the sidewalks are clear of snow and black ice.