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BEDRIDDEN LIFE
Ordering in German, Therapy, and Twitter Shennanigans
Or Tweets, let’s be honest
In Germany, at an outside restaurant, my wife and our two friends had ordered their drinks and now it was my turn to order. “Ich hatte gern einen Radler, bitte,” I said to the waiter. Radler is a popular mixed beer drink in Germany that’s made by blending German beer with Sprite.
“You’d like a Rhonda?” he replied in German.
Everyone laughed.
Really? Was my German that bad? Did he really think I was trying to order a Rhonda? Would some woman named Rhonda be showing up with my order?
I was already self-conscious enough about speaking German in public, and now the waiter thinks I’m trying to order a Rhonda?
“Nein,” I said. “Eninen RAHD-LER, bitte.”
A couple of years later, our friend in attendance that day would remind me of the time I tried to order a Rhonda in German. I should have just ordered in English.
I have nothing against psychologists and therapists. I know therapy helps a lot of people. Before developing a chronic illness in 2015, I had no experience with therapy and had never gone to a therapist. But when you’re chronically unwell, doctors and other professionals recommend…
