Apology

Estimado Senor (Dear Sir),

I wanted to write you a note and apologize for what happened so many years ago.

Lo siento! I know it’s all my fault! I'm sorry!

I was just coming home from work and still had my security uniform on, and I’m sure you just thought I was some sort of police or something and that’s why you did what I said.

You see, my Spanish was horrible then. Lo siento!

When I saw a taxi come speeding down the road and you were turning from the wrong lane and hit the taxi, I thought I could help.

So I stopped.

No one was hurt, but the taxi driver sure was mad and you looked so worried. You were trying to apologize to the taxi driver in Spanish, and I wanted to let you know that I saw what happened and offer some sort of relief to you. I saw the taxi driver speeding and it might not have been entirely your fault even though you were turning from the wrong lane.

But my Spanish was horrible then.

I didn’t know how to say “He was speeding” or even “He was driving fast.” So I settled for trying “he was going fast.” But I didn’t know how to conjugate verbs. I'm sorry!

I only knew how to talk in the present.

I said “Va rapido.”

Which is the present form of (he: understood) “Go Fast” And you asked me, “va rapido?” I replied “Si, va rapido.” You looked so relieved when I offered my Spanish to help and I was so pleased that you understood me.

But I was confused when you got in your car and left quickly. The taxi driver asked me what was going on, but I wasn’t too sure. Then a police stopped and the taxi told him you just hit him, and the police went to chase you down.

I don’t know what happened after that because I felt horrible and left.

I’m sorry!

I hope everything worked out. That one single incident inspired me to learn more Spanish. Oh and just so you know, I’m fluent now.

Sincerely,
The gringa in the security uniform