What is your favorite family story?
Posted on Sep 15th, 2008
by
Mathew
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for September 15, 2008:
When I was a child, my parents had a habit of befriending the owners of the restaurants they frequented. Consequently, whenever they dined out, there was always a certain amount of fanfare and commotion to be witnessed upon arrival. "Hello. How are you? How nice to see you, etc. etc." In this regard, my mother tells a story about how she and my father met the owner of a Chinese restaurant in Los Angeles, a friendly older gentleman with a thick Mandarin accent who introduced himself as "Wheat Shit." "Wheat Shit?" my mother repeated, thinking the name more than odd. "Yes. Wheat Shit," was the very clear response. Thus, for the next year, everytime my parents visited the restaurant, they exhuberantly greeted Wheat Shit by name with hand shakes and hugs. And then one day, not seeing Wheat Shit upon arrival, my mother asked the Maitre d' where Wheat Shit was. "Who?" the Maitre d', responded. "Wheat Shit -- the owner?" my mother clarified upon receiving a blank stare. "Oh, you mean Richard," the Maitre d' replied. "He's not here today."
True story.
True story.

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Great story. So I gather that all along, the poor guy was trying to say “Richard” and it sounded like wheat? Lol.
Gotta love a thick accent!
I haven't read many other responses,but this HAS to be in the top 10! LOL
~Lisha
Thanks for the comment, Lisha. You too, Amy.
Mathew xoxo
You're welcome, Mathew. But you do have me wondering what my name would sound like if I try to say it to a person who doesn't speak my language…………
:-)