the MS brain at work. . . again

[Guest guest]

As many of you already know, I grew up learning in my

own family and clan many languages: English, Spanish,

Portuguese, Italian, some Dutch, some Turkish and some

Hebrew, even some Arabic. Then, just to really confound

the whole cognitive picture, I insisted on studying both Latin

and Greek extensively.

This does not always result in the clearest of communication

on my part, however. This week alone, I succeeded in sending

a post to a friend in Brazil in Spanish, sending a post to a friend

in Madrid in Portuguese, and in a conversation with my cousin,

Jerome ("Herohmay" in Spanish), I managed to get my words

just all fouled up: not everyone can get "tears" (lagrimas in

Spanish) confused with "miracles" (milagros in Spanish),

and then get both confused with equivalent words in Italian!

I grew up learning judeo-spanish (16th century Spanish used

by jews in Spain) and 17th Century judeo-Italian. So, when I

lived in Mexico City, Ciudad Mexico, the Capitol of Mexico

in my youth, I had to learn modern Mexican Spanish a-new.

I worked pretty hard, especially as I had been enrolled by

my relatives in what they regarded as "the best" school,

that is, the FRENCH school, so I had to unlearn Canadian

French and re-learn modern French, sort of. I really got things

all fouled up.

We were in the Museo Nacional in Ciudad Mexico and I was

getting tired due to the very high altitude, and attempted to

explain this to my uncle and aunt. I failed, and then attempted

to explain that I was embarrassed at my grammatical errors.

I ended up announcing that I was "casada" (married) instead

of "cansada" (tired), and then entertained everyone around us

by further pronouncing that I was "embarazada" (pregnant, not

"embarrasaed"). Etc.

However, as I read the posts on this list, I do find it miraculous

that we are not each drowning in unmiraculous tears.

I so wish that there were more that I could actually do for

so many.

I love you all, in no matter what language the different

plaqued areas of my brain are non-functioning in and

in no matter which language or combination thereof.

n