software (down) grades Dan’s pretty French (or Farsi) skills
While I was working on technical challenges, we were enjoying a weekend with Tiger and Arrow. As regular readers know young Tiger, as the grandestson, is verbally prolific. Nazy speaks Farsi, and for the most part, only Farsi to him. While he was visiting, I decided to show off my own linguistic skill:
“How do you say ‘green’ in Farsi?” I asked.
“Sabz.” He replied. Correctly.
“And what does ‘aub’ mean in English?”
“Water, Dan. Even you know that.”
“How do you say ‘Mama’ in Farsi?” I asked. “smart-ass,” I thought
“Melika!” Tiger responded.
“I didn't ask who is Mama,” I thought. “I asked how to say ‘Mama,’” I replied.
“Mama!” Tiger responded.
The brought memories of Mitra at around the same age:
Flashback
Memphis, Tennessee
As I came into the house, I heard a strange chop, chop, chop sound coming out of the kitchen.
“What are you guys doing?” I shouted over the cacophony.
“We’re chopping pecans,” Nazy shouted from the kitchen.
“Okay.” I replied.
Then I heard 2 year old Mitra running out of the kitchen.
“In English, we call them ‘nuts’, Daddy,” Mitra informed me.
End Flashback
It seems that grandchildren, like children, underestimate my language skills.
Nazy and I also took Tiger to MOXI, the Museum of Exploration and Innovation over the weekend. He really loves this place and, I think, so does his grand(est)mother.
Notice, as well, that he is wearing his glasses. He’s become much, much better with his spectacles.
Arrow also continues to grow. He’s started music class. He loves to sway to the beat. He bangs on the drums and shakes the rattles..
“Not ‘rattles’, Dan,” Nazy interrupted. “Those are shakers.”
“I can’t write: ‘shake the shakers’, my dear.” I replied. “Shakers are a defunct religious sect. “Defunct because they didn’t believe in procreation,” I thought.
He ‘coos’ while we ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’.
He’s also very courageous as he continues to shun crawling in favor of attempts to walk. Tiger, in contrast, was cautious about stepping out, preferring instead to scamper around (at very high speed) on all fours.
When music school ends, Nazy and I take Arrow to ‘Our Daily Bread’ where he nibbles on free samples, Nazy has a coffee and I snarf down a blueberry scone. This week, we picked Tiger up from school and took him to lunch at ‘The Daily Grind’, a local coffee shop. Nazy ordered a bagel and then joined Tiger and me at our outside table.
“You can go in and pick up the bagel, Dan.” Nazy said.
Inside, there were lots of items ready for pick up. I saw a small bag and asked:
“What’s this?”
“It’s a cranberry bagel,” The clerk responded.
“Just one bagel?” I asked, still unsure. “I’m picking it up and I’m not..”
“A pretty French lady ordered this one. Is that right?”
“She’s not French, but she is pretty,” I responded as I picked up the bagel.
For last week's letter, click here
Dan (in mirror), Arrow, Nazy (and some 'extras') at Music Class