Buenos Noches

The word 'Buenos Noches' was just another word for me until I had a revelation moment. For years, I heard the word on Sesame Street, or on Via Allegre, but still, it had no significant meaning. I would hear it all through my life, but I simply paid no attention to it. I thought to myself I ain't never gonna speak this language or learn it in any way that it would benefit me, so why bother? And... life went on.

You go through life thinking that the English language is the only language then you find out that this way of thinking is completely wrong. As those versed in the Spanish language become prevalent in the society that you thought would never change, you find yourself needing to learn a few words in order to communicate.

You fumble through the language and its words and realize, as the shoe is on the other foot, how the person who does not speak your language, and has to express themselves in your native tongue feels. You try to pronounce words in that language, but you know that it's wrong, and most times, you have to find an interpreter.

You will have some good days where you and that individual will have a mutual understanding and you get your point across, but then you will have those days where you feel so helpless and you have to look for that interpreter.

You think about school and the classes that you should have taken. You think about the times you and your friends made fun of the teacher who wanted you all to learn the language and maybe master it. And then you think about that one phrase that maybe all of you said,

"How's this going to help me in life, I don't need to know how to speak Spanish, this is America."

And while you're butchering that language and making many mistakes, you look around and wonder if the Creator (for those who believe in a Supreme Power) has a sense of humor or has some kind of plan (Lol).

But the deep moments almost always seem to hit you when you're just standing around thinking about nothing. And one just hit me after 30 years of paying it no mind.

One night, a Hispanic woman said good night to me, but instead of saying good night, she said good nights. I thought to myself, well she's learning how to speak English and needs to practice. But then it hit me, in her native language, Buenos Noches means good night. And, right after that, I realized that Buenos Noches is a plural phrase, and it means good nights.

And if you were to interpret the phrase, it means 'May you have many good nights. Please don't ask me how I came to that conclusion after 30 years (lol). So, you see, it's not the woman who needs to learn, it's me. She knows more than I do because she is saying to me 'may I have many good nights'.

Since then, I've never thought of the phrase Buenos Noches the same way ever again and I make sure that I say it to as many people as I possible. I'm slowly learning to say certain phrases and I'm beginning to hear them too. When you think you know it all, you find out that you don't know anything. Most times, it's good to keep an open mind. Sometimes, it's best to humble yourself and take in account the things you don't know or understand.

And as for the woman, she can say 'good nights' to me any time she wants.