Setting here with my first cup of coffee of the day and Sam Seeger and Richard Meyer pop into my head with brief memory from long ago. Sam was in Central High here in Pueblo. Richard was a son-in-law of Kenny's. Sam was probably a Sophomore at the time. One of his subjects was the German language. He would come in and spout off phrase he had learned in school that day and sometimes I could decipher it, which always surprised him.
Just a little background here. My grandfather came into America via Ellis Island when he was 9 years old. Most of my ancestors were fluent in the German language and at family gatherings the elders would converse in German, so I had a passing knowledge of the language. My first husband was probably more German than I was. When he proposed, he did so in German. So, like I said, I knew a little German, but not enough to guide Sam through the language with any degree of competency. Back to the story.
I had told Sam that Richard spoke German and I felt if he wanted to learn it would be nice to have Richard for supper and they could converse. Sounded good to him so the invitation was issued and Richard accepted. I told him Sam would be trying his German skills on him and he agreed to the plan.
The night arrived and supper was cooked and the table "laid". Now "laid" was the term that the grandma's had always used for "setting the table." Grace having been said, conversation could begin. Sam and Richard exchanged "Guten abens" and then Sam uttered something in German to which Richard replied with several sentences in fluent German. Sam once more more replied in his halting German to which Richard replied with a fluency that I had not heard since leaving grandma's house. Then the table fell silent except for the conversation between Kenny and Richard about the "job".
Sam and I were cleaning the kitchen after and the men had gone outside to the garage, which meant Kenny had gone out to smoke his pipe and visit with Richard away from the domestic stuff inside.
Sam began our discourse with "Good Lord! You did not tell me how well Richard knew German! I just made a complete ass out of myself and you let me!"
I replied that I thought the conversation had gone rather well to which he replied, "Oh, yeah! It went well, but I do not think Richard gave a damn how fast Tom can run, or how far Mary walked to school! You didn't tell me how well he knew German."
I asked him if he understood anything. He replied that he did, but that was our one and only discourse. He went on to go to the German club, I think and maybe learned a little German. Since coming to Pueblo I am no longer around people who speak any German, except for my friend, Jerome.
So, this is what is on my mind the very first thing this morning!
Hope you all have a good day!
Guten Auben. (I think that is right.)
