I'm in love. Well, I've been in love with San Geraldo for 33+ years, but I've found someone new. Her name is Martina... and she's 2-1/2 years old. Obviously, she's not replacing San Geraldo
(no one could ever take his place), but she is simply irresistible.
Martina is our friend Jessica's little (obviously) sister. Jessica brought her by and we met for the first time. I had bought her a set of books (for ages 2 and up) so she can enjoy learning her colors (and words) in Spanish and English. The books were a huge hit.
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y1G6F5djWJY/VBnV5-8XcUI/AAAAAAAATLY/f5YTGLIweYk/s1600/3899martina.jpg) |
HUGGING BIG SISTER'S LEG. |
We tried to get the very talkative Martina to say my name, but Mitchell is not an easy one for toddlers, even English-speaking toddlers.
(My friends' daughter called me "Ditch" for months. She eventually started to get the idea that the consonant "M" was pronounced by pressing the lips together. Unfortunately, it took her a while to not start off with a "B." So, it went downhill from "Ditch.")
Whenever Jessica would ask Martina in Spanish what my name was or who gave her the books, she would respond, "ése"
("that," as in "that one").
I finally told Jessica that we should give Martina something to call me that's easier and more recognizable to her young Spanish ears.
I said, "She can call me Miguel,"
(which would be the Spanish translation of my name).
So, Jessica turned to Martina and told her my name was Miguel and then asked her to say it.
Martina responded, "Miguel." But she quickly commented, "Él no se llama Miguel. ¡Él se llama Michi!"
("His name isn't Miguel. His name is Michi.")
![](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dyjrrTOB4Nk/VBnV4fTpdAI/AAAAAAAATLQ/er-9AJMMXAE/s1600/3896martina.jpg) |
"MICHI!" |
Oh, I almost forgot to mention: I told Martina that her hair was very beautiful. She agreed. Then she looked into my eyes and said very gravely in Spanish, "You don't have hair." When I responded, equally gravely, "No, I don't." She told me it was OK because, "... you have hair on your face."
This post is dedicated to Martina and other sweet things.
![](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qmLMv5xuZ1M/VBnYxZFquNI/AAAAAAAATMI/DE-YiUuktxE/s1600/2255goodcake.jpg) |
IN A BAKERY WINDOW OUTSIDE THE ZOO. |
![](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--WRVIaXAM4s/VBnYtwO3uhI/AAAAAAAATLw/LUlAtbyW7oA/s1600/1220cheese.jpg) |
DESSERT AT MESON SALVADOR. |
... He's confection. Goodness knows.
PRICELESS! Every little bit of this post was priceless :)
ReplyDeleteJudy:
DeleteMaybe I should focus more on all the sweetness!
What a sweetie.... I'm playing catch-up again... and darned if I didn't get the best first! And... just as an aside... we visited out great-granddaughter in NY a couple of weeks ago... read those Spanish books we brought back to her... maybe that kid will be bilingual eventually... not much hope for me.
ReplyDeleteSharon:
DeleteI now practice Spanish at home every day, plus all the conversation I have around town. It's obviously paying off. I am now able to have a conversation with a 2-1/2-year-old.
It's okay because you have hair on your face... Priceless. If only we could all see the world through the eyes of a child.
ReplyDeleteStephen:
DeleteI agree. I haven't stopped smiling since meeting Martina.
Lovely!
ReplyDeleteDamien:
DeleteMy cure for the blues: Martina. After spending time with her, all I could think were sweet thoughts.
There's a bit ofbettedavis in her... She plays the camera
ReplyDeleteJohn:
DeleteOh, she was quite the ham. But, unlike Bette Davis, all sweetness.
Absolutely delightful! Michi.... hmmm, I like it! One look at those big brown eyes, and I melted.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, your musical selection leaves me breathless.
Jacqueline:
DeleteI love "Michi," and wish I had met Martina right away. That would be my Spanish name.
What a cutie pie she is - plus she shares chocolate. My kind of girl.
ReplyDeleteCheapchick:
DeleteMartina IS a cutie pie, but it was her sister Jessica (a lot older) who shared her chocolate with me. (And Jessica is a cutie pie, too.)
Children can and do teach us to just be ourselves and nothing more......as sweet as sweet can be.
ReplyDeletethis was lovely, Mitchell.
Jim:
DeleteI've been carrying the bliss of my time with Martina the entire week.
What wonderfully bright eyes she has and how prescient to substitute B for M.
ReplyDeleteAndrew:
DeleteThe "B" for "M" substituter was the daughter of very old friends. (She's now 40, I think!) Martina, fortunately, doesn't yet speak English, so doesn't say "Mitch" or any variation of it.
Oh ! I liked the baby photo !
ReplyDeleteSpo:
DeleteIsn't that adorable. But, I can't believe how childhood photos of us now look like relics from an ancient past!
Hey, Childcatcher! Over here please - and quick! Urgent work for you to do!
ReplyDeleteRaybeard:
DeleteNow, Ebeneezer... This one at least is a pleasure to have around.
Bob:
ReplyDeleteThe little girl who called me Ditch and then Bitch did finally learn to say Mitch. But she's about 40 now!
(Re your response to my comment above)
ReplyDeleteA pleasure? My eye! - and foot!
Ditch!
ReplyDeleteShe's ADORABLE. :)
Michelle:
DeleteI LOVE nicknames and have never had one that has stuck (except Mitch, which is only sort of a nickname... and then San Geraldo went and started calling me Mitchell, which set me back to before I was 12). Anyway, Ditch could have been a good one. But Michi might be safer.