Lost in Translation

Yesterday, I promised you that I would reveal how goofy I can be. When everyone was busy searching for that perfect card stating their deepest romantic feeling for their partner, I did an impulse buy.

Typically I can spend ages at that counter of cards, pouring over them until I find that perfect one; the one that sounds like I personally penned it for My Love. But, on this particular day, I had my son with me. That probably explains everything. There was a small section, so small that it could be easily overlooked, of Spanish cards. On the spur of the moment I thought I would grab one. As you know, Dennis was born in Honduras and speaks Spanish. I, on the other hand, was born in nowheresville Missouri and am doing good to have mastered English.

I picked one of the cards below the sign, “For husband” and giggled like the school girl I felt like as the scene played out in my head. What would he think? He knows I don’t know Spanish. I found it very humorous and had a great time holding on to my secret until the day - V Day.

The evening before I gave it to him, acting again on the spur of the moment I decided to translate (I use that word loosely) for him. You will soon realize why no one will ever hire me to be their interpreter.

Here is my translation, line for line:

For My Husband

Do you know why

My faithful lad

I have seen saguaros

With you

And it made me tranquil.

You make me tingle

With your natural aroma,

Deodorant is not necessary

I apologize for the platypus

Of a color

Of umber. . .

He does smell good and I have seen saguaros with him. I don’t know where there’s a platypus but. . .

Thank you

For marrying me

And considering me

For a donkey why

I love you tons!

Happy Saint Valentine’s Day!

Still, when I “read” the card that’s the translation I see. And I didn’t notice until later that the proper translation was on the back.

For My Husband

Knowing that you’re

Always by my side

Gives me a sense

Of security and peace.

You have a natural way

Of loving me,

Of knowing when I need

The assurance of your words

And the warmth of your embrace. . .

Thank you for being the kind

And loving husband you are.

I love you.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

Somehow, my spur of the moment gave me the words I would have picked, unbeknownst to me. But I gave him humor too. Oh and the “runaway” comment is referring to one of the first cards he ever gave me about running away to a deserted island. In fact, I won a box of fruit roll-ups from Lookit! with “Runaway with me” printed on them during the blog give away thingamajobber.

tags: valentines day  card  translation  im weird