Friday, January 15, 2010

A New Pair of Glasses



It’s the little things, tiny things really, that tell me I’ve been accepted as a native rather than a CFA (come from away) in my community here in Newfoundland.

Today, a couple and I had been invited to another couple’s home for dinner - which is the midday meal here.

They tell me to drive to their place which is about halfway and they will drive the rest of the distance.

When I get into the back of their SUV, I find it is blanketed.

“Oh, they say, that’s for your dog, we thought you’d bring Ansa, we wanted her to feel at home in our car”.

We’re all on coffee and tea after we finish this fabulous meal of cod, potatoes, coleslaw and homemade carrot relish when the two women start teasing me about the china cups I’d used at my recent Nollaig na Mban and maybe I’d be getting too fancy now to use mugs. To much laughter, I gave as good as I got, saying I’d never be back again if I wasn’t served on the very best china.

All of this I observe through my new spectacles.

And I get a lump in my throat.

9 comments:

  1. You're exotic - enjoy it!

    How kind of them to think of your dog though - that would definitely have brought a lump to my throat too.

    Hope the new glasses are working out.

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  2. Laura:
    I was so touched.
    And this couple has never liked dogs which adds to the big lump. Ansa has converted them. They are hopelessly in love with her!
    XO
    WWW

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  3. The people sound so kind and caring, the menu sounds scrumptious and how I envy you those new glasses. I have been needing a new pair for over a year.

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  4. 20CW:
    Newfoundlanders have to be the friendliest people I've ever met!
    And I just love these glasses, they are frameless and non reflective and have a seamless graduated vision thingie.
    I also got me some incredible sunglasses which are the same, so I can read and knit outdoors.
    It's been far far too long since I bought glasses.
    XO
    WWW

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  5. Till very recently Jenny's aunt, who's lived in Belfast for many years, insisted on serving tea in china cups and found drinking from mugs (or beakers as she calls them) extremely vulgar.

    But I must admit using fancy teacups or coffee cups now and again and doing things in style is quite fun.

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  6. I agree Nick, it is the unusual thing now to bring out the bone china, but it will never get used unless we make an event of it now and again.
    Pinkies up!
    XO
    WWW

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  7. Acceptance has to be important in such a small, scattered community - it's good to know the natives are so friendly in Newfoundland. :-)
    I think I'm still CFA to most natives here in OK, but I don't mind.

    Very nice speccies by the way !

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  8. "home" is portable. it just takes a long time.

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  9. We spent some years as CFAs in Nova Scotia. What a wonderful place you live in.

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