La versión español está después de la versión inglés.
THE KID BROTHER has always had a difficult time dealing with change in his routine. He likes to know what’s happening and when. He likes to know how to get where he’s going. And he panics if we say things like, “I think we’re lost.”
“Lost?!? What do you mean lost?!? Get directions! Look at a map. You’re lost?!? Stop the car!”
So, although San Geraldo and I think being lost is simply an opportunity for a new adventure, we never get too adventurous when we’ve got The Kid Brother in tow. And we never tell him when we don’t know where we are.
Over the years, The Kid Brother has become more inflexible. I continue to adapt. Tuesday of my New York week, we went to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens and, although The Kid Brother knows the city’s public transportation system better than anyone I’ve met, he had only ever gone to the Gardens by car. So, when I told him all we needed to do was walk five minutes from my hotel to the “2 and 3 Train” subway station on Hoyt Street and then go five stops on either train to Eastern Parkway/Brooklyn Museum, he was clearly not convinced. We passed another subway station on our initial walk. A moment of panic, but I prevailed. We then got on the 3 train and he was sure we should have gotten on the 2 train. I showed him the stops on the wall map on the subway and he followed each of the five stops with his finger, questioning me every time the doors opened. The trip home wasn’t much different. But when we went back two days later to visit the Brooklyn Museum, all was well — well, mostly well; we took the 2 train that day. What was I thinking?!?
SINCE I WAS EXPECTED TO BUY at least one souvenir on our daily outings, I thought The Kid Brother’s eyes would pop out when we walked into the huge gift shop at the Botanic Gardens. They’ve got great items for sale, but nothing is cheap. He hefted a jar of something in his hot little hands and asked, “What’s this?” (as in “Is this something for you to buy me?”). I read the label and said, “Apple Butter.” “Apple BUTTAH?” he queried in pure New Yorkese. “Yeah,” I said, “It’s good on toast. You can make a sandwich, too, with jelly.” “OK,” he said. Thankfully, he didn’t find anything else; even he thought it was all too expensive. All except the apple buttah. He considered $15 a bargain (for me). I hope he’s enjoying that toast.
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EL HERMANITO SIEMPRE ha tenido dificultades para lidiar con los cambios en su rutina. Le gusta saber qué está pasando y cuándo. Le gusta saber cómo llegar a donde va. Y se asusta si decimos cosas como “creo que estamos perdidos”.
“¿¡¿Perdido?!? ¿Qué quieres decir con perdido? ¡Obtener las direcciones! Mira un mapa ¿¡¿EstaIs perdido?!? ¡Para el coche!”
Entonces, aunque San Geraldo y yo pensamos que estar perdido es simplemente una oportunidad para una nueva aventura, nunca nos volvemos demasiado aventureros cuando llevamos a The Kid Brother. Y nunca le decimos cuando no sabemos dónde estamos.
Con los años, El Hermanito se ha vuelto más inflexible. Sigo adaptándome. El martes de mi semana en Nueva York, fuimos al Jardín Botánico de Brooklyn y, aunque El Hermanito conoce el sistema de transporte público de la ciudad mejor que nadie, solo había ido a los jardines en un coche. Entonces, cuando le dije que todo lo que teníamos que hacer era caminar cinco minutos desde mi hotel hasta la estación de metro “2 y 3 trenes” en la calle Hoyt y luego hacer cinco paradas en cualquiera de los trenes hacia Eastern Parkway/Brooklyn Museum, claramente no estaba convencido. Pasamos otra estación de metro en nuestra caminata inicial. Un momento de pánico, pero prevalecí. Luego nos subimos al tren 3 y él estaba seguro de que deberíamos habernos subido al tren 2. Le mostré las paradas en el mapa de la pared en el metro y siguió cada una de las cinco paradas con su dedo, preguntándome cada vez que se abrían las puertas. El viaje a casa no fue muy diferente. Pero cuando regresamos dos días después para visitar el Museo de Brooklyn, todo estaba bien, bueno, casí todo bien; tomamos el tren 2 ese día. ¿¡¿Qué estaba pensando?!?
COMO SE ESPERABA QUE COMPRARA al menos un recuerdo cada día, pensé que los ojos de El Hermanito saldrían cuando entramos en la enorme tienda de regalos en el Jardín Botánico. Tienen excelentes artículos a la venta, pero nada es barato. Levantó un frasco de algo en las manos y preguntó: “¿Qué es esto?” (como en “¿Es esto algo para que me compres?”). Leí la etiqueta y dije: “Mantequilla de manzana”. “¿Apple BUTTAH?”, Preguntó en su acento local. “Sí”, le dije: “Está bien en pan. También puedes hacer un sándwich con mermelada. “” Está bien “, dijo. Afortunadamente, no encontró nada más; incluso pensó que era demasiado caro. Todos excepto la Apple Buttah. Consideró $15 una ganga (para mí). Espero que esté disfrutando de ese pan.
Hizo más fotos que yo.
“¡Mira!”, exclamó El Hermanito, “¡Vino a saludar! ¡Hola, chico!
Produciendo sonidos de pájaros.
El Jardín Japonés.
Le compré una gorra nueva de los Yankees el año pasado; Esto obviamente no lo es. Compramos una gorra roja de “Brooklyn” en Coney Island este año. Cuando le pregunté por qué todavía llevaba este viejo, dijo: “¡Uh uh! ¡Los estoy guardando!” Por qué, no lo sé, pero no le compraré otra gorra el próximo año (eso digo).
En el almuerzo con la mantequilla de manzana a su lado. Él está sonriendo porque yo estaba canalizando al León Cobarde del “Mago de Oz” y cantaba “Si yo fuera el rey del bosque.”
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Love that smile! He also adores you.
That’s not what I typed. I typed “he also adores you.”
Susan,
I love getting him to smile.
“Is this something for you to buy me?” Ha!
Judy,
I might have to get a job. He sure knows how to spend my money!
Getting lost is sometimes the best part of the adventure.
David,
That’s how we feel!
I’m with the Kid Brother on the issue of getting lost. It sends me into a tizzy. A TIZZY, I tellz ya.
Debra,
I really do enjoy it. But a couple of times in the car with Chuck panicking taught SG and me to keep our mouths shut.
I like getting lost … wait, where was I? Oh yeah, Apple Butter, or Buttah, is the greatest thing ever!
Bob,
I just had a revelation. Apple Buttah and chawklit!
I must concur with Chuck on the hat issue. OLD hats are well worn in and fit perfectly/dirt and all! lol
I think he loves you Mitch! You entertain him.
Jim,
Oh but THAT hat is awful. And I keep my mouth shut. Yeah, we love each other.
Getting lost while driving a car doesn’t bother me (unless I’m low on gas and it’s a country road), but on a public transportation system, I think maybe that would freak me out. Chalk it up to my suburban upbringing, but relying on a bus or train always makes me a bit nervous. Call it publictransportationphobia.
Kirk,
I agree about getting lost on public transportation, if only because it can double — or worse — travel time. Jerry and I love taking wrong turns… when we have the time. We’ve made some wonderful discoveries.
Apple Butter…a very good choice…..your “Kid Brother” is a wise one. Yummy on pancakes.
OOPS, I’m new at this and didn’t put in my name….I am not really the anonymous type.
Hi Nonanonymous Patty!
My Kid Brother drives me crazy and fills me with love.
(sings) life’s candy and the sun’s a ball a buttah!
Anne Marie,
OK. Now I have to run through the entire song!
Love the way Brother thinks and your understanding of the meaning.
parsnip
Parsnip,
Yes, I’m very astute… and he STILL has me wrapped around his little finger.
Apple butter with jelly? I’ve used it in place of jelly but not with. Usually, if not eating it with a spoon, it’s on bread with butter. Yummy! That turtle is a cutie.
Deedles,
OK, now you’re getting into cooking territory! I was proud I came up with the toast suggestion. Apple butter and butter is redundant, isn’t it?
No, it’s delicious! Apple butter is sweet so I would think if it was paired with jelly it would be way too sweet. We always ate it with butter (margarine, actually). We also ate jelly, jam and preserves with butter when out of peanut butter. I prefer the margarine over peanut butter.
Deedles,
Well, I spoke with my brother last night. He finished off the jar. Had it solo on rice crackers!
I enjoyed those pictures, but for some reason I have never acquired the taste of apple butter, opps, I meant Apple Buttah
Mistress Maddie,
Maybe if you’d been pronouncing it correctly…
As ever, your brotherly patience is beyond admirable and heading for sainthood (San Mitchello??). And the increasing inflexibility with age is a given across the board, I’m afraid (as I’m finding with my DH with Alzheimer’s). Peace to you and San Geraldo–and the incomparable Dudo and Moose, of course!
A. Marie,
I find with age I’m more forgiving and patient, but more particular about the company I keep… and with whom I’ll be forgiving and patient!