“Or, worse yet, we have one set on our head and another on our nose.”
So writes Pete Jennen, Fergus Falls, Minn., who sends along a story dealing with both a language problem and a bit of forgetfulness.
“On homecoming day in Fergus Falls last year,” he writes, “while I was filling up my gas tank at an unusually busy downtown gas station, I noticed license plates from many different states. There was even one from Quebec.
“When I went in to pay, I saw an elderly lady with a heavy French accent speaking with an overwhelmed clerk.
“The clerk was confused because she thought the woman wanted a certain kind of gas, and the clerk couldn’t locate any.
“It was obvious to me,” Pete says, “that the clerk had not traveled out of the area, and so she was not aware the lady was attempting to pre-pay for some gas, but just didn’t understand her.
“So I politely interrupted and asked the lady if she was from Quebec. She replied in the affirmative.
“I told her we are a little different around here. Here, you are allowed to pump your gas and then come in and pay.
“As we walked outside, the conversation continued. I asked her what brought her to Fergus Falls.
“She stated that she and her husband loved the U.S. and enjoyed getting off the main paths to get a real experience.
“I shared with her that my young son had been to a polylingual convention in Montreal the previous week, and if he was available, he would love to show her and her husband around. He would even share with them in French.
“I suggested she look up the Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead.
“I wished them well and was off.
“Within a few blocks, my phone rang, so I reached up to my ear to press the button on the Bluetooth, only to realize that Bluetooth wasn’t there. The Bluetooth in my other ear was the one that was on. I had just had that exchange with the woman from Quebec with two very different models of Bluetooth in my ears!
“It was then I remembered putting the extra one in my ear after lunch in order to carry it out to my work van.
“Yes,” Pete concludes, “we are a little different around here.”
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If you have an item of interest for this column, mail it to Neighbors, The Forum, Box 2020, Fargo, ND 58107, fax it to 701-241-5487 or email blind@forumcomm.com.
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