La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
I SPOKE WITH THE KID Brother Tuesday night. He was in a great mood, which meant he was willing to stay on the phone while I talked “at” him for most of 25 minutes. Of course he didn’t volunteer any information. I had to ask. “So, Chuck, did you get the box of goodies I sent you?”
“Yeah, I got it.”
“Did you like it?”
“Yeah, it was good.”
“Great. Do you have anything left?” It had been delivered Friday.
“I got pretzels and other stuff.”
“Did I pick things that you like?”
“Yeah, it’s good.”
I told him how I found the website and where I had tried to shop initially. “I know you like cashews. Were those good ones?”
“Yeah, they were good.”
“Is there anything you didn’t like that I shouldn’t buy again?”
“No. It was all good…. And those bars!”
“Were they lemon or apple? I can’t remember.”
“Apple.”
“So you like those?”
“Yeah, those are good.” High praise indeed!
We ended the conversation with a riff on an Abbott and Costello routine. I said, “Have a good day at work tomorrow, Chuck.”
He said, “Whatsamattah, ya don’t wanna tell me today?”
I switched to Newyorkese, “Ahm tellin’ ya!”
He roared: “Well, I don’t know! Third base! And I don’t care!”
“What was that?” I asked.
He replied,“I said, I don’t care!”
“Oh, that’s our short stop.”
“Doh!!!”
HABLÉ CON EL HERMANITO EL el martes por la noche. Él estaba de muy buen humor, lo que significaba que estaba dispuesto a quedarse al teléfono mientras yo hablaba con él durante la mayor parte de los 25 minutos. Por supuesto que no ofreció ninguna información. Tuve que preguntar. “Entonces, Chuck, ¿recibiste el paquete de cuidado que te envié?”
“Si, lo recibí.”
“¿Te gustó?”
“Sí, estuvo bien”.
“Excelente. ¿Te queda algo?” Había sido entregado el viernes.
“Tengo pretzels y otras cosas”.
“¿Elegí cosas que te gustan?”
“Sí es bueno.”
Le conté cómo encontré el sitio web y dónde había intentado comprar inicialmente. “Sé que te gustan los anacardos. ¿Eran buenos esos?”
“Sí, estaban bien”.
“¿Hay algo que no te gustó que no debería volver a comprar?”
“No. Todo estuvo bien … ¡Y esos bares!”
“¿Eran limón o manzana? No puedo recordar”.
“Manzana.”
“¿Así que te gustan esos?”
“Sí, esos son buenos”. ¡Un gran elogio en verdad!
Terminamos la conversación con un riff de una rutina de Abbott y Costello. Le dije: “Que tengas un buen día en el trabajo mañana, Chuck”.
Él dijo: “¿Cuál es el problema, no me quieres decir hoy?”
“¡Te lo digo!”
Rugió: “¡Bueno, no lo sé! ¡Tercera base! ¡Y no me importa!”
“¿Qué fue eso?” Yo pregunté.
Él respondió: “Dije, ¡no me importa!”
“Oh, esa es nuestra shortstop [campocorto?].
And he said, “¡¡¡Doh !!!”
Mira el video y lo entenderás
Lanzar el béisbol a “Quién”. Estadio Angel, cerca de Los Angeles, 2010.
“Quien” firmó el béisbol.”
I just realized: At left in photo are two WWII Army blankets I found on the top shelf of my mother’s linen closet in 2007. They were covered in mildew, rotting, and smelly. I emptied the entire closet and washed every surface with bleach. My mother was in hospital at the time having been hit by a car. That was the beginning of several purges I did in her apartment over the next 9 years. Memories!
• LOS PAYASOS, BROOKLYN, 1968. Él tenía 8 años y yo 14. Llevo una camisa Nehru y esas son mis gafas de sol. Hermana Dale hizo la foto.
Me acabo de dar cuenta: a la izquierda en la foto hay dos mantas del ejército de la Segunda Guerra Mundial que encontré en el estante superior del armario de ropa blanca de mi madre en 2007. Estaban cubiertos de moho, podridos y malolientes. Vacié todo el armario y lavé todas las superficies con lejía. Mi madre estaba en el hospital en ese momento después de haber sido atropellada por un automóvil. Ese fue el comienzo de varias purgas que hice en su apartamento durante los siguientes 9 años. ¡Recuerdos!
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I’m so happy to hear that Kid Brother was in a jolly mood! Your relationship with him is such a beautiful thing. I wish I had a big brother like you. ❤
Jennifer:
Chuck and I have a bond. Thank you!
Kid Brother is merely being economic with his replies. In other words, keep sending me the same stuff, Bro. I gather from past exchanges you’ve share from him, that you will definitely know when he doesn’t like something 🙂
Love the Abbott/Costello riff. When my kids were growing up, any sentence I used that began with who, what, or where almost always had them turning it into a play on that scene. Which made me forget what I was asking because I would join in on the fun.
Mary:
Abbot and Costello had some of the most brilliant routines. Chuck doesn’t even understand many of them (like the “How many donuts did you make, etc.” but he still does it with me regularly. And, oh yeah, he’ll tell me when he doesn’t like something! My mother would too, but I laugh when Chuck does it. I love that your kids did Who’s On First!
Goody boxes are always fun. If we want to understand what was once hard to have in someone’s life, we can look to see what was moldering away in the top of the closet.
David:
My mother had a lot of things moldering. She didn’t throw things away. That was left to me (she gave me permission after that frighteningly unhealthy linen closet) and then she’d complain for years after when she couldn’t find something.
Exactly what I needed this morning! lol Thanks.
Happy the Kid Brother was in a good mood.
Jim:
He’s been doing well lately because the guy he shared a room with moved out some months ago. It’s just him and Chris and they’re like 2 peas in a pod… well, unmatched peas, but same pod.
What a fun chat, and anything that morphs into a riff on Who’s On First is high-larious!
Bob:
With Chuck, EVERYTHING morphs into a riff on Abbot and Costello, The Three Stooges, Laurel and Hardy, the Marx Brothers, Get Smart, Superman (“And don’t call me chief!!!”)… When we’re together he does all those routines but also can talk non-stop. SG thought he had to respond to everything he said until I explained you just nod your head a lot.
You guys are so funny with your Abbott and Costello! I’m glad the KB was in a good mood.
Steve:
I’ve always laughed at these conversations but they’ve become even more special now that I have you all to share them with. I too am glad he was in a good mood. All I have to do is send him a care package every week I think!
a good day for both of you.
anne marie:
It was. I have to admit, I’m always just a bit stressed when I call him since I never quite know who I’m going to get. And talking at him for even 15 minutes when he’s in a bad mood is NOT fun. Often, however, I’LL start one of our comedy routines and he’ll come out of his funk.
To be a fly on the wall when you two are on the phone, must be entertaining.
Mistress Maddie:
Oh, it must be. When we’re on the subway together or walking down the street, he often starts a routine. I used to discourage that in public, not wanting to draw any unpleasant attention to him. Now, we have fun. He’s older and very obviously developmentally disabled now and people just smile.
I’m glad he liked that parcel of goodies so much!
Debra:
I was very pleasantly surprised. I’m tempted to do it ever month, but we already spend a bit of money on him monthly and when I visit, and a once-a-month care package is too much unfortunately.
The ubiquitous army blankets of our youth. Don’t know if indestructibility was their best or worst feature. They did make great indoor forts on rainy play days. High praise from Chuck on your goodie box!
Wilma:
Until I saw the blankets in the photo, I had forgotten that my parents used them as beach blankets. They were already 20 years old and so stale smelling. Imagine what they had done in that linen closet as they rotted. They probably got stuffed there not long after that photo was taken and were never touched for another nearly 30 years. And, yes, I can’t believe there was no criticism on the goodie box. I’m GOOD!
This brought me to tears and I have no frickin’ reason why. Time to hibernate for a few weeks after the scaling and planing of my teeth today. Hmm, maybe that’s why I’m crying, anticipation.
Deedles:
You’re a sweetheart. It’s love and it brings me to tears sometimes, too. Ooh, I’m having my teeth cleaned next week. But I enjoy it. Hope you’re happy with the return of your Hollywood smile.
So glad you had a good visit with him, I kow that isn’t always the case and sometimes you worry about that. Even tougher without being able to visit now. Hugs
Cheapchick:
Thanks so much. I always stress a bit when I phone him. I never know who I’ll find. It was easier when we could FaceTime. He was more relaxed when he could see me. But, yeah, it was a good visit. Sending you hugs right back!
Kid Brother is a bit laconic but it’s all good. I barely knew my big brother. You are a good guy.
Love,
Janie
Janie:
He can drive me crazy and he can make me smile. And his life is better than I ever hoped it could be. I’m really grateful. (And I do love him.)
So nice he like the box.
Daughter is coming over at least once a week to help me declutter my studio. Boxes to give away of old paper and art stuff. It is hard for me to part with even old supplies as I have always used up every last bit. Money was always very tight. When I moved in here where I put stuff away that is where it stays. I know I will use it all again but really I will not.
cheers and be safe
Parsnip:
I’ve got two storage drawers filled with art supplies that I need to start using! Mine is all newly purchased over the last few years.
Your post jogged my memory that I once played either Abbot or Costello, I don’t remember which, in a “Who’s On First” rendition. I do remember I was the one who had the most dialogue. I did it with a teacher friend of mine for a faculty talent show years and years ago.
mcpersonalspace54:
I can’t believe you can’t remember which. Chuck would be very disappointed. It was likely Costello if you had most of the dialogue.
Probably Costello then. I just remember I had all the lines where the other had to answer. I did memorize it all though!
I like these conversations between you two.
Kirk:
I do, too, and even more now that I can share them.
I notice some demon blocks about 50% of my attempts to leave comments here.
I came back to look for it – not here!
Urspo:
I wish I knew what to tell you. I’ve been having the same problem on other blogs. And it’s so inconsistent. It’s a pain. Thanks for sticking with it.
What is the Spanish word for gremlins or poltergeists?
Urspo:
Fantasma is the term I know for things like that, but I don’t know if that’s specific enough. I think poltergeist can also be used in Spanish. I looked up gremlin and “duende” comes up, as well as fantasma.