Excerpts from a Conversation

[gnomi]

(My parental units are spending February in Israel. They call periodically to check in. And they're returning to the States on 1 March. All these snippets actually occurred in the conversation I just had with them.)

Abba = my father
Ima = my mother
Me = uh...me

Snippet 1:

Abba: So, I have my US cell phone with me, so I'll likely call when we get to New York.
Me: OK, good. And hopefully you won't have the weather problems you had going out.
Abba: Well, weather won't be as much of a problem, even if we're delayed, since the connections aren't as critical.
Me: Yes, you could always hop another flight. Heck, you could take the Delta Shuttle if need be.
Abba: Or the train. Or a {mumble}.
Me: A what? A SQUID?
Abba: A squid? Nah, that would be wet and sloppy.
Me: No, not a squid, a SQUID. A...whatzis Quantum Interference Device. What's the "S" stand for again?
Abba: Synchronous? Something.
Me: [IMs mabfan, gets answer] mabfan says Superconducting.
Abba: You're with mabfan? I called you at work.
Me: Ah, the joys of modern communication. I've got an IM window open to him.

Eventually, Abba hands the phone to Ima.

Snippet 2:

Ima: So, we've been all over, with lots of different cab drivers.
Me: Oh?
Ima: Have you ever had the cab driver take both hands off the wheel at the same time? While still talking on his cell phone?
Me: No, I can't say that I have.
Ima: And tomorrow we're heading up to [kibbutz where friends of my mom from high school live].
Me: Travel safe.
Ima: [more details of their less-than-perfectly-careful travels]
Me (after a moment or two more of this): Uh, Ima? This is one of those conversations I'd rather have after you return home safely, OK?
Ima: You mean like "by now you must've heard about our bomb"?
Me: Yes, just like that.

Snippet 3:
Ima: It's getting late; I'm heading to bed right after I hang up.
Me: OK. Keep me in mind, OK? Because it's not 3:00 in the afternoon where you are, so you'll be going to sleep-sleep, right?
Ima: Yes.
Me: So, if you are yotzei me now, I can get a good solid couple of hours of sleep before I leave work.
Ima: Yes. Definitely.


My parents -- They're loony, and I love 'em for it. :-)

Comments

[seborn.livejournal.com]

I first read that to mean seeing-eye squid. Not that squid as binoculars are less weird.

[kuroshii.livejournal.com]

hmmm. a seeing-eye squid would be just the thing for a blind mermaid.

[farwing.livejournal.com]

That's such an odd little image...

[kuroshii.livejournal.com]

which is exactly why i had to share it, once it popped into my head. :)