La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
THE KID BROTHER SOUNDED VERY excited when he answered the phone last night. “I got two cards. And a card from you! I’ll go get ’em.” And he was gone. “I’ll be right back,” he yelled. I heard him having a loud running conversation with his roommate Chris about a game on TV as he crossed the apartment. He returned. “One has a football team. And there’s a dog,” he said.
“So, tell me about the one with the football picture on it first.”
“It’s not a picture. It’s a team.”
Oh… uh. “What’s the city?”
He spelled quickly and I caught on before he finished with a bit of a hiccup, “J-A-C-K-S-O-N-V-L-E… I-L-L-E.”
I said, “Jacksonville! That’s in Florida.”
“I know! I know!”
“Is that from Jennifer — J-E-N-N-I…” “Yeah!”
“She’s great,” I said. “Her husband’s name is Gregg. They have a parrot named Marco, and fish and a dog. She works at an elementary school and he designs aquariums. They’re good people.”
“I know!”
“Oh, I ’ve I told you about them before haven’t I?”
“No!” Yeah, I have. I’m already exhausted.
“OK, so tell me about the card with the dog,” I continued.
“What are you talking about?!? That is the card with the dog!”
“I thought that was the football card.”
“Now just wait a second! Hold on. Hold on. Just the city! They’re not doing very good.”
“Ohhhhhh. You recognised the city name Jacksonville in the address from the football team.”
“Yeah. They’re doing bad though.”
“Are they usually a good team?”
“Not really.”
“So tell me about the other card. What’s on that one?”
“I don’t know. It’s a picture.”
“It’s not flamingos? That’s what’s on the way from Anne Marie in Philly.”
“No. It’s a picture.”
“Is the name on the card B-O-B?”
“Yeah! That’s right!”
“Oh, that’s Bob. He’s a really good guy and he tells funny stories. His husband’s name is Carlos, like you, and they have cats, too. One looks like Dudo and Moose. His name is Tuxedo. But what’s on the card again?”
“I don’t know. A picture. Really nice colors.”
“Is it abstract art?”
“I think so.”
Given that “a lady not from these days turned out to be the Mona Lisa (click here), I’m curious to learn what Bob’s abstract art is all about.
The Kid Brother lost his patience with my slow-wittedness last night. San Geraldo heard some of my side of the conversation. He was laughing when I walked into his office. I told him all I had energy for was to to quickly jot it down and then go to bed. He’d have to get the other side today, along with you. He understood. San Geraldo always understands.
Bob, thanks a million, and now tell us about that abstract art. Jennifer, you truly are great and I’m sorry your football team is not.
NOTE:
The photo, taken by My Mother the Dowager Duchess, is from 1989. As The Kid Brother would have described us at the time, Your Big Son and The Big Guy.
MORE IMPORTANT NOTE:
Jennifer wrote and said she doesn’t live in Florida and the card wasn’t from her!
.
EL HERMANITO SONABA MUY ANIMADO cuando contestó el teléfono anoche. “Tengo dos cartas. ¡Y una tarjeta tuya! Iré a buscarlos”. Y se fue. “Vuelvo enseguida”, gritó. Lo escuché tener una conversación ruidosa con su compañero de cuarto Chris sobre un juego en la televisión mientras cruzaba el apartamento. El regresó. “Uno tiene un equipo de fútbol. Y hay un perro”, dijo.
“Entonces, cuéntame primero sobre el que tiene la imagen de fútbol”.
“No es una imagen. Es un equipo”.
Oh … eh. “¿Cuál es la ciudad?”
Deletreó rápidamente y me di cuenta antes de que terminara con un pequeño hipo, “J-A-C-K-S-O-N-V-L-E … I-L-L-E”.
Dije: “Oh, Jacksonville. Eso está en Florida”.
“¡Lo sé! ¡Lo sé!”
“Es eso de Jennifer – J-E-N-N-I …”
“¡Sí!”
“Ella es genial”, le dije. “El nombre de su esposo es Gregg. Tienen un loro llamado Marco, y peces y un perro. Ella trabaja en una escuela primaria y él diseña acuarios. Son buenas personas”.
“¡Lo sé! ¡Lo sé!”
“Oh, ya te he hablado de ellos antes, ¿no?”
“¡No!” (Sí, lo hice. Ya estoy exhausto).
“Bien, cuéntame sobre la tarjeta con el perro”.
“¿De qué estás hablando? ¡Esa es la tarjeta con el perro!”
“Pensé que era la tarjeta de fútbol”.
“¡Uf! ¡Espere un segundo! Espere. Espere. ¡Solo la ciudad! No lo están haciendo muy bien”.
“Ohhhhhh. Reconociste el nombre de la ciudad Jacksonville en la dirección del equipo de fútbol”.
“Si. Sin embargo, lo están haciendo mal”.
“¿Suelen ser un buen equipo?”
“Realmente no.”
“Entonces cuéntame sobre la otra carta. ¿Qué hay en ese?”
“No lo sé. Es una imagen”.
“¿No son flamencos? Eso es lo que viene de Anne Marie en Filadelfia”.
“No. Le dije, es una imagen”.
“¿El nombre de la tarjeta es B-O-B?”
“¡Si! ¡Así es!”
“Oh, ese es Bob. También es un buen tipo y cuenta historias divertidas. Su esposo se llama Carlos, como tú, y también tienen gatos. Uno se parece a Dudo y Moose. Su nombre es Tuxedo. Pero, ¿qué hay en la tarjeta de nuevo?”
“No lo sé. Una foto. Colores realmente bonitos”.
“¿Es arte abstracto?”
“Creo que sí.”
Dado que “una dama que no es de estos días” resultó ser la Mona Lisa (haz clic aquí), tengo curiosidad por saber de qué se trata el arte abstracto de Bob.
El Hermanito perdió la paciencia con mi torpeza anoche. San Geraldo escuchó algo de mi lado de la conversación. Se reía cuando entré a su oficina. Le dije que lo anotaría rápidamente y luego me iría a la cama. Tendría que llevarse al otro lado hoy contigo. Él entendió. San Geraldo siempre lo entiende.
Bob, un millón de gracias y ahora cuéntanos sobre ese arte abstracto. Jennifer, realmente eres genial y lamento que tu equipo de fútbol no lo sea.
NOTA:
La foto, hecha por Mi Madre La Duquesa Viuda, es de 1989. Como El Hermanito nos habría descrito en ese momento, Su Hijo Grande y El Tipo Grande.
NOTA MÁS IMPORTANTE:
Jennifer escribió y dijo que no vive en Florida y que la tarjeta no era de ella.
Well, that was quite an exchange. And I’m impressed that you not only jotted it all down but translated it! I’m glad your kid brother gets such a kick out of his postcards. I’m also curious about Bob’s card and what artwork it might show!
Steve:
Turns out it wasn’t even from Jennifer! I’m waiting to learn who it WAS from. Bob wrote and said the card was painted by a blind person at the Perkins School for the Blind. Can’t wait to tell Chuck.
How fun, and it gives you two something to talk about. Glad you made your notes before dreamtime.
David:
I didn’t want to forget one detail. I didn’t include everything… there was so much more confusion.
wonder where the hell my card is. damn USPS!
sounds like chuck gets a big thrill from all the cards. 🙂
anne marie:
It’s a long walk from Philadelphia! The mail has been a nightmare recently. Wonder why.
When you two brothers are face to face is it easier to communicate? So many of the facial expressions are missing over the phone nd texting. A lot is lost for the best of us.
Again, you both are fortunate to have each other as you know.
Jim:
Easier face-to-face and even on FaceTime, but still very challenging. Chuck rarely answers questions directly. Any conversation can be like an Abbott and Costello routine.
Makes the Abbott and Costello “Who’s on First” riff sound like an easy conversation. Bless him (and you).
To assist with upcoming postal communication with Kid Brother a tad easier–I am about to put a postcard in the mail to him of fishing boats at sunset on the Chesapeake Bay (written across photo). Just wrote that I lived nearby. 🙂
Mary:
Oh, thanks for the heads up. That definitely helps. I’ve actually made notes when anyone has told me what they’ve sent. Can’t wait for the flamingoes to arrive from Anne Marie. And thanks again and again for writing to him. As you can tell, he’s elated.
I am SO glad Chuck got the card! I was getting worried and annoyed about our USPS taking so long.
The abstract art card was painted by a blind person at the Perkins School for the Blind. We have a whole series of cards from them and they are amazing.
Again. my heart is full today that Chuck got the card and smiled!
Bob:
I can’t wait to tell him the painting was done by a blind person. He will truly love that. On top of being a royal pain in the ass, hilarious, sometimes kind, often demanding, and regularly thoughtful, he’s extremely caring. Thank you again!
Who knew postcards could be so exhausting! There are some very special and thoughtful people who read your blog.
Wilma:
Anything related to Chuck can be so exhausting! And you’re right, the best thing for me about writing this blog is connecting with such special people, like you. It can get me through the worst times.
Those postcards are proving to be real conversation fuel!
Debra:
They sure are. AND confusing. Turns out that card wasn’t from Jennifer!
Oh he does seem to get a charge out of these cards. I shall contact you to het his seats and send one. I have a perfect one in mind if i can find it somewhere.
Mistress Maddie:
Oh, he’ll love that. I’ll email you his info. He is loving the cards. And it turns out the one from Jacksonville is NOT from Jennifer… who doesn’t live in Jacksonville!
Uh oh! I didn’t send the card with a football team…I sent a card with a cartoon man giving a “virtual hug” and we live in Florence, South Carolina, not Jacksonville! Haha. Chuck is getting a lot of cards, which is great!!
Jennifer:
Oh nooooooo! Yeah, Florence is not the name of any football team I know. I actually thought you lived in South Carolina. So was surprised when I spelled your name and he said “yes.” I’ll have to remember to NOT spell FOR him. And so, another mystery! The next time I see him, I’m buying him an easy-to-use smart phone, a data plan, and setting him up for Skype or Whatsapp video! Too bad that will have to wait a while. I HAD told him about you in the past because I knew he’d love Marco and the aquariums.
I’m laughing at your post script about how I don’t live in Florida….hell, South Carolina MAY AS WELL be Florida…there’s not much difference!!! Hahaha!
I’m so glad Chuck is enjoying his cards. I can’t wait to find a good Christmas card to send him!
Jennifer:
And the mystery is solved. The card was from JanieJunebug. Chuck is LOVING his cards. Thank you again.
I live in Jacksonville, Florida, and sent a card (not a postcard) with a picture of a dog that has bubbles around it. It should have been there by last week. I p!an on sending a cute Christmas card, too. I love it that Chuck gets so much pleasure out of cards. Happy Thanksgiving!
Love,
Jane
Janie:
That’s it!!! Thank you so much! J-A- WOULD sound an awful lot like J-E- to Chuck. I can’t wait to speak with him again and explain. And I’m STILL really sorry you don’t have a very good football team.
The Kid Brother has a knack for keeping you on your toes. Third base.
Walt the Fourth:
Oh, that’s our shortstop! (We did that routine last week; I don’t think I could have handled doing Abbott and Costello this week… after BEING Abbott and Costello this week.)
The Kid Brother said there was a game on TV. Was Jacksonville playing?
Kirk:
No. I don’t know what it was and I couldn’t get an answer when I asked. What’s interesting is he recognised Jacksonville on the envelope as a team but not as a city. I love getting glimpses into his process.
Jacksonville’s team might not be good, but at least they have a name…
wickedhamster:
I’m lost… again. Are there football teams without names?