Red Beans and Advice for Monday, November 28

A gift giving tip from my grandmother

My grandmother, for who I am named, was multi-lingual, as were many European immigrants. She learned English primarily after coming to the United States in 1913. According to my mother, my grandmother’s efforts at conversation were often amusing, as happens when you are trying to master a new language.

When a guest came to her home, she strived to please them. “You like fish? I’ll make you a fish sandwich,” she once said to Maxine, out of the blue. My mother would repeat this saying when she was offering us something to eat, to peals of laughter.