Friday, June 29, 2007

One Makes all the Difference

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Doug is our newest coworker. I learned this week that he married a foreigner. I figured it out when I answered the phone and had a difficult time understanding her. Living in the South – although cultivating me on new food, phrases, and "slow talkers" - has not allowed me much interaction with other cultures or accents especially outside the country. After Doug got off the phone, he informed me she is Scottish.

Later in the afternoon, I was trying to explain her background to Jordan and Mark. I attempted by saying, “She is from Scotland, so she isn’t a Native American…ummm, and neither am I for that matter.”

I meant to say a native of America.

One word in the middle of a two.

One word would have made all the difference.

One.

One vs Two.

Single vs Married.

The next time anyone gives me grief about being single, I’ll have to point out just how important One is.

I’m One.

And that makes all the difference...somehow.

7 comments:

TUG said...

Some would say . . . my dear Charlotta . . . that marriage TWO becoming ONE.

But what do I know, I was married for 6 days.

Clair said...

what interesting insight you have. love it!

Unknown said...

A few years back, my ex-girlfriend K's father asked me a similar question with that one word missing...we all got a chuckle out of it. "So are you a 'native' American?" With my parents being from the Philippines, he really meant to ask me if I was born here. (Baltimore, MD, just in case anyone was interested)

Unknown said...

Yes, it's fascinating how one word can change an entire meaning. And congrats to Thom for being married for six days.

Jocelyn said...

I'm not sure The South is doing you any favors, but...wait...yup, it's making you very funny.

Staci said...

LOL It's downright OPPOSITE of New York, that's for sure. And yes, one DOES make all the difference. ONE person is very powerful- you go girl- you Native American, you. :)

Shankar said...

Didne th' soond ay bags gie it awa', lassie? Ye need tae gie it mair.

Having gone out a couple of times with a Scottish girl, and now having a Scot for a boss, you'd think I'd have learned the lingo by now. Nae chance.