Centime

Five Years

Today makes five years that my cutie and I have been together. Today he sent me flowers to mark the event.

I fell in love with him over a fondue dinner. We were working on a project together. A group of about seven of us decided to go out for dinner for fondue. Fondue has always been a favorite of mine. I had been working with Geo and had developed a great deal of respect for his intelligence and integrity but had not yet though of him in a romantic sense. Because there were so many of us at dinner we were able to order two kinds of cheese fondue. Geo and I were seated at opposite ends of the table facing each other. When they waiters showed up with the cheese fondues, Geo directed them to put the swiss cheese fondue at this end of the table. I experienced a childish moment of disappointment because I wanted the swiss cheese fondue at my end and it showed fully on my face. Geo saw my disappointment on my face and teasingly said, “Oh. You want the swiss cheese at your end of the table? Okay, let her have it then…”. It was such a sweet thing to do. I have loved him ever since….

The Immigrant Story

I am sucker for a good immigrant story. If I lived in California I would have voted for Arnold. Immigrants sometimes seem to love this country more than us.

Yesterday I had a dental appointment. My dentist is a woman who is originally from somewhere in the former Yugoslavia, Bosnia I think. Needless to say I am one of her few American born, non-eastern European patients. She is always running late, which drives my American sensibilities crazy but she give me a ten percent discount due to the fact I an self-insured.

While I was waiting in the waiting room I got into a conversation with another woman from the Yugoslavia by the name of Zateaja. When I first got there she was speaking with elderly lady who was also from Yugoslavia and they were speaking in their common tongue. After this elderly lady left, she apologized for being so loud. I told it was okay, I could tell they were friends. Turns out they had just met. It also turns out that they were from different parts of Yugoslavia and that these parts where the parts of Yugoslavia were those parts that have been at war. Zateaja commented on how those people who are at war in Eastern Europe come here and get along fine. Show felt it was because our democratic system treats everyone so fairly.

Zateaja then went on to explain how she came here thirteen years ago and got a job behind the fish counter at the Jewel. Jewel is a large grocery chain here in Chicago that is actually owned by Albertsons. Over time, her English improved and she now has a job selling lotions and potions at Victoria’s Secret. However, she still works part time at the Jewel because she is afraid our slow economy will force people to buy fewer lotions and potions but they will always need food. About a week ago her boss from Victoria’s Secret stopped by the Jewel to get some groceries. She was shocked to find Zateaja behind the counter asking what she could for her. When she questioned Zateaja on why she was working at the Jewel, Zateaja responded, “It’s all about customer service. Whether it is perfume or salmon, its about serving the customer...” . I hope her boss was impressed, I know I was. She was still a little worried about how her boss might treat her after discovering her working at Jewel. I’m not too worried about Zateaja, with her sales abilities she will do just fine.

With new Americans like Zateaja, I have great faith that this great country of ours country will continue to thrive…