DailySusan Humor Blog

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF CELEBRATION

Yes, it’s my birthday. Around the globe, untold masses are streaming out of their homes and joining hands in the streets, singing for joy, as bands play and there are ticker-tape parades. . . .

Suuuuure. Actually, so far I have unloaded the dishwasher, fixed my own breakfast of a scrambled egg and an Oreo, and listened to Maddy proclaim that her birthday wish for ME is that SHE would get more Care Bears.

But things really been delightfully international around here lately. A daughter’s college friend has been emailing from her trip to Paris, our neighbor is going to China on business, and the other day a new friend’s daughter came to play with Maddy and I learned all about their former home: Brazil.

Finally, I could answer my burning question about South America. No, nothing about politics or the economy. It has to do with a hand gesture. I’ve wondered for years if this is an urban myth: when Dan Quayle was vice president, I heard that he went down to Brazil for a formal visit, and they set him up with a ticker-tape parade. Everyone lined the streets, waving American flags. He was sitting on the seatback of a convertible limousine, waving to the crowds. It sounded a lot like my imaginary annual birthday celebration, in fact.

Then Vice President Quayle made the ‘’OK’’ sign. You know: thumb and forefinger meet in a circle, and other three fingers are held off to the side.

The crowd hushed. Faces contorted in disgust. Women screamed. I may exaggerate a little on that, but it was a bad scene, and Quayle had no idea why.

The story was that, down there, the all-American ‘’OK’’ sign actually refers to a certain body part on which you sit, if I can put it delicately. Making that gesture signifies that, in your opinion, the other person is, indeed, that particular body part. It’s the supreme insult. And here was our American vice president, smiling broadly and giving that hand signal to thousands of confused Brazilians. THAT’S not very NICE, I’m sure they were thinking.

Finally, I met someone who could confirm or deny it. And yes, the other mother had to say, that was apparently a failure of the first magnitude for the American diplomatic corps, for not cluing in the VP on what’s nice and what’s not.

So let’s have a Politically Correct International Day of Celebration this birthday, shall we? No hand signals . . . just join me in a little birthday prayer that we can have world peace, human understanding, and a sense of humor in the coming year.

That, and an Oreo for breakfast. Life’s little treats: they’re what make the world go ‘round.

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Prayer request: Speaking of international celebrations, there’s a reunion this week in Costa Rica for the family of my Bible Study Fellowship leader, Audrey, and her eldest daughter, who is studying there. We pray for safe travels for them in their rented van, and that each family member would have a cheerful attitude: it’s the rainy season, you know. We also pray for Audrey’s grandmother, 103, who is ailing, and that they can be reunited one more time before the Lord takes her home. (Genesis 10:5)