Lexi’s been looking for the perfect pair of sunglasses since the snow melted off our deck back in May. [O.K. fine I’m over-exaggerating, it melted way, way back in April.] Anyway, we found these glasses a couple of weeks ago at one of those mall kiosks, although I can’t say I’ve ever purchased anything at a kiosk before. Not that there’s anything wrong with those kiosks, just that I haven’t had a need for hair extensions or cell phone bling yet.
When I asked the kiosk lady a few questions about the glasses, I noticed she had some kind of Eastern Bloc accent. Even though her accent was thick, I could understand her. However, that didn’t keep me from flailing my arms around like I was on the losing team of a charades game. I’ve gotten into this habit of manically gesturing when I speak with foreigners. I don’t trust that they u-n-d-e-r-s-t-a-n-d what I’m saying and so I like to augment my speech with spectacular choreography.
I’ve found myself doing this ever since we moved back from Mexico, where ordering a pound of cheese at the deli counter required I act out the first half of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. I never felt all that secure in my ability to articulate my thoughts with mere words alone; I didn’t trust my Spanish. It wasn’t enough that I simply asked for ‘a lot of ice,’ or ‘mucho hielo,’ in my drink. I had to stand on my tippy toes with my arms stretched above my head while puffing out my cheeks like a foraging squirrel.
Anyway, I’m happy Lexi finally found some glasses that she likes. I’m also grateful she grabbed my wrists, before I was able to oscillate my arms in a swimming motion when I asked that kiosk lady about wearing those sunglasses in the water.
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Comments
I LOVE visualizing your descriptive stories! 2nd to your writting is David Sadaris, really!
Awesome photo too, nice glasses Lexi!
How I love thee David Sedaris. Thanks, you!