Watching the “sees” part

Zoog mir in Yiddish

By Sol Awend, GenShoah SWFL

"Gitteh Fraant!Voos Hayetzec’h?!” (Good friends! What does one hear? What’s new?)

“Siz shoin ah laangeh t’zaat ahz mot zec’h nisht geh zayen!” (It’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other!)

I hope you’ve had a worthwhile vacation without us Shnei Foygel’n (Snow birds).

You know the old saying..."Everyone needs a warm loving family in another city!”

Now that it’s September, you see the colors starting to turn as different color license plates also turn up.

Reservations will soon be harder to get, and traffic is going to get snarled. Beauty salons will become crowded with veibehlec’h (young ladies) anxious to get back in the groove.

And one thing we Yiddlec’h are so good at, is discussing geography. Gleib meec’h (Believe me), there will be more fraages (questions) than entferen (answers).

At all the get-togethers, expect to hear a lot of operatic arias as people recognize each other. Ahhh! Rivka! Zay no vee shein dee zays’t oss! (Ohhh Rivka! Look how pretty you look!)

As the hub-bub dies down to a dull roar, the laughter begins when mah sah lec’h fin dee einiklec’h (stories about the grandkids) start to gush. Nine-year-old doctors? Really?

There seem to always be two types of people: Ones who talk incessantly (Zei reden un ahn endeh, un zei voos kiken un hayren oss dee maases) and those that look and listen to all the stories). They are shtim (silent). Ever hear of the word “cacophony?” Ironically, there is no definition in the Yiddish dictionary. The closest I came was something called a toomult

But what’s great about it is seeing everyone all fahpitst (dressed to the nines) and enjoying one another’s company.

It’s funny to see the waitstaff and busboys navigating the dining rooms. They have these looks on their faces like they are wondering what these people are talking about. The volume goes down a bit as sad news of those gone since the last get-together cause Kleenexes to blossom from purses.

Gradually, the crowds start thinning out as the rest of the day takes hold. Oy! Ich miz gein t’zeh Pooblix! (I need to go to you know where!) Ich miz gein t’zin dawkteh! (I have to go to the doctor!) Already? Ich miz gein maac’hen deh hooweh. (I have to get my hair done).

The guys have their own routine with all the hand waving and handshakes. Shlaamek! Zayzt oss ree zehdik! (Sam! You look great!) Voo den! (What else!). It’s so funny to watch the “sees” part as men and women see their friends and go their separate ways recognizing one another.

Somewhere along the line, talk of the weather takes over. Oy! Siz heis! Oy! Siz doosh neh! Oy! Dee vint bloowest shtarik! (Oh! It’s hot! Oh! It’s humid! The wind is blowing so strong!) And then you mention the name of the current hurricane and they all say the same thing, Heh!? Doos iz ah noomeh?! (Heh!? This is a name?!).

All in all, everyone’s in a constant state of motion trying to either catch up or tell their own version of what’s what. And all of this is probably happening around one major component: Essen (eating).

But now that all is getting back into place, there’s one major event that all the Yiddlec’h have to confront: Praying for a good year in hopes of being around to enjoy it. With that thought, let’s all pray for a good and healthy and prosperous New Year. Lomir zec’h oss baytin off ah Git Yoor!