SPEAKING JAPANESE (a Christmas memory )
My Dad was a chemical engineer, or as he liked to joke, “I are a engineer." In the late 1950’s his company was building a chemical plant in Japan. Dad made several trips to Japan, and of course his counterparts from Japan visited the States.
One year around Christmas, Pop called my Mom in the afternoon and informed her that we would be having company for dinner, (yes, it was a male chauvinist world in the 50’s) two Japanese businessmen.
Mom dutifully prepared a roast and set a fancy table for our guests from Japan. Keep in mind, at the time there were no Japanese cars in the States, “Made in Japan” was synonymous with cheap reproductions, and it was less than 15 years that we were at war with the Japanese…the “inscrutable” Japanese.
When Dad arrived at the front door with his two guests, Mom immediately met them with a deep bow. The two guests bowed politely and then in the finest English with only a hint of an accent,
“Good evening Mrs. Hagy and thank you for inviting us into your home.”
Mom responded very slowly and loudly in her best Japanese,
“YOU VERY WELCOME. COME SEE OUR HOME. SEE TREE? IT CHRISTMAS TREE. WE CELEBRATE HOLIDAY CALLED CHRISTMAS. TREE PART OF CHRISTMAS DECORATION.”
My Dad quickly took mom by the arm and whispered,
“Peg, they speak perfect English, there is no need to shout.”
“Peg, they speak perfect English, there is no need to shout.”
“I know,” Mom replied, “I’m not an idiot!”
“COME FRIENDS OF MY HUSBAND, WE HAVE DINNER IN ROOM CALLED DINING ROOM.”
My brothers quickly pulled mom into the kitchen.
“Mom, they speak perfect English!”
“I know, why does everyone keep telling me that?”
“Because you are talking to them like the Lone Ranger talks to Tonto!”
“Oh really.”
“Yes, stop shouting, and use your verbs and articles.”
“Oh my…thank you for telling me, I had no idea I was talking like that.”
“Well Mom, you were.”
We all went back to the table for dinner, and Mom came in with a perfectly cooked Roast Beef on a platter.
“THIS MEAT. HOPE YOU LIKE!”
It may have been the longest dinner ever.
Strangely, my father’s guests from the other side of the world were quite smitten with my mother.
re-run from 2013
Awww. I think I would have been smitten by her myself. I bet they gave her an "A" for her effort at trying ot make them feel at home!
ReplyDeletebetty
At least she didn't tuck them in to sleep in the drawers of a Farbman dresser.
ReplyDeleteThat's a memory to hand down through the family for generations to come.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely and what a brilliant read this was. I enjoyed it so much I read it twice! Don't ever destroy this post, it's a real gem.
ReplyDeleteThis is a brilliant post, JoeH. Really enjoyed it. Thanx.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you.
I can only hope that was an exaggeration. Lol!
ReplyDeleteHahaha!! Loved the "Tonto-Speak"!!
ReplyDeleteShe really made an effort to be the perfect hostess. Funny how we speak loudly if we feel the other person doesn't understand.
ReplyDeleteBwahahahahahahahaha. I love your mother too. How could you not. Thanks for the laughs.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day, Joe. 😎
Heeheehee! She sounds like someone i'd have enjoyed meeting.
ReplyDeleteThat was funny.
ReplyDeleteHilarious!
ReplyDeleteThat is sooo funny! Your Mom sounds like a sweet lady that would charm anyone. Plus she made a roast on the fly. At least she didn't do take out Chinese!
ReplyDeletehahaha
ReplyDeleteoh i am overwhelmed by your mom's Japanese dear Joe , i think the guest will not forget her warm welcome and superb vocabulary :)))
this one is hilarious
Agreed. Mortifying to you, and maybe the Japanese were merely being their incredibly polite selves, but it's a funny, charming story, either way.
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