melting pot

Hispanic, arabic, asian, albanian, indian, french, german, italian, black, white, gay, straight, etc., no I'm not studying anthropology or political correctness. Driving around my fair city the other day allowed me to take notice of the many cultures, colors, and lifestyles surrounding us. Diversity thrives like the wild mint next to my driveway. Growing up in a world as white as Wonder bread always left me longing for "something else". For as long as I can remember I have been obsessed with other languages, cultures, food, people. Marrying a lebanese/irish man opened up a whole new world for me. No I'm not talking Guinness and pubs here. I'm talking about kibbie, grape leaves, sheik el mishwa, and other deliciousness I don't dare try to spell. Not to mention the language which is as complicated as calculus, but oh so beautiful to listen to. I have been trying to learn this new world of strange letters and symbols and so far the only words I'm coming up with are please and thank you and a slew of dirty words I probably shouldn't mention. I will keep trying to master this so obsessed am I. Today's grocery adventure led my son and I to the hispanic market  in the neighborhood. The trays of spicy marinated meats, crazy cheeses, salsas, so many tortillas and tamales had my mouth watering. Tonight's dinner will be a marvel accompanied by a cool Corona of course! The Spanish language is also another obsession. I try to learn through snippets of my son's Dora and Diego cartoons, along with our Honduran prep cook helping with basic conversation. It amazes me, the more I speak, the more I remember from school and that just makes me want to learn more, more, more. My husband says it sounds like we have a Mexican nanny when I'm yelling at my son in Spanish. Of course Spanish leads to French. So intrigued I spent a year in school trying to master this romance language. My knowledge of this particular patois is more extensive than most yet I still struggle. Working in a restaurant all these years opened my eyes to other countries I seriously never knew existed. Albania, where the hell is that, well I can tell you it's by Italy and Greece. It has beautiful beaches and no one really likes peanut butter there. Honestly ask any of my Albanian friends. My favorite Albanian loves to swear at me in her native language, accent as thick as mud, while she yells bitch across the kitchen. God, I love her. Only in America or at least in this particular corner of the rust belt. For tonight though, I will smoke my cigarette on the porch while I watch my beautiful Indian neighbor in her vibrant saris walk her young children before bedtime. However you open your eyes to culture, whether through food or language or travel, know that your world is truly a melting pot and for this reason a more beautiful and interesting place to reside. So dear check out guy at the arabic market, if you see me staring at you strangely it is only because I wish I could speak and understand your lovely language. Good night, bonne nuit, buenas noche, natanamir, world.