Believe it or No Believe It

Believe it or no believe it.

God bless my dad, God rest his soul. English was not his first language. And though, he’d been here in California over 50 years, he never quite got a grasp of it. My brothers and I used to laugh when he referenced the television show Ripley’s Believe it or Not and called it Ripley’s Believe it or No Believe It.

My siblings had grown up speaking Spanish, but I hadn’t. As a second generation Latina, I excelled in the English language. I even became something of a grammar nazi. Note: I have become better about not judging people for their misspellings and typos.

Yet, I didn’t realize how difficult it was to learn another language. My mom had immersed herself in English from the time they first crossed the border. She spoke more proper than most people with the occasional error. But, that was not my dad.

So, in a time when we need to be politically correct, I enjoy playing with language. Such as using it the way my dad did. After all, Duolingo will only get you so far. As I struggle still learning Spanish, I feel that correct usage isn’t all that important in everyday situations.

Being understood ranks higher on my priority list. Isn’t that what you think when you’re approached by someone who doesn't speak English? Whether the articles or prepositions are wrong, communication on any level is key.

The English language is fussy as all get out, so who cares if they say it correctly or no say it correct? It means THE SAME THING.

My dad.

In an interview with my bestie, who has her own show called Every Story Matters, I got to tell mine! And part of that was telling that my parents came here from Mexico and that my dad started his own business. Despite the language barrier. I couldn’t fathom doing this in a different country.

But he did. There is something so inspiring about that.

And now here I am on the cusp of publishing my own book…having the benefit of being born and raised here, with a great command of the language. It’s terrifying. But fear isn’t something that stopped my dad nor will it stop me.

My dad is no longer around to see me do this. Nor did he know that I was proud of what he accomplished, despite their money problems and all their other difficulties. But I like to think that he’s on the other side, he and my mom, cheering me on, and encouraging others to pursue their dreams as well.

The interview is now available on KGEM tv’s YOUTUBE channel, if you’re interested in hearing more of my personal story, find the interview here: Every Story Matters | Annie Marie

Hope you enjoy. I was nervous and wasn’t actually feeling like crying during the filming, even though that’s how I look. But I look how I look—another thing I accept about myself. That’s me. Unapologetically me.

Now please, take that…and be you. Unapologetically.

P.S. (Courtesy of the Teflon Saga) Q: What do you call a moose with no name? A: Anonymoose