Nothing like an American in a Latino Family
A month before we got married, my husband and I were visiting Miami and staying with my aunt. She and I were talking. I don’t remember about what when my future husband said: “Hey, stop arguing!”
My aunt and I answered at the same time.
“We’re not arguing,” I said, surprised he thought we were.
“Eh, we’re not fighting. We’re talking Cuban,” my aunt said.
I cannot tell you how many times my husband has repeated that story. He tells it everytime someone asks him what it is like for a nice California boy with Pioneer stock to marry into a Cuban family.
With that story in mind, watch this trailer for an upcoming holiday movie called Nothing Like the Holidays. Debra Messing, muy gringa character, is married to John Leguizamo and he’s got a big nutty Latino family. Of course.
During a meal scene, Messing leans into Leguizamo: “Why is everybody fighting?”
He explains: “Oh, they’re not fighting. We’re conversating.”
My husband will love that scene.
I have been sorely disappointed by “ethnic family dramas” ala Hollywood, save for The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love. Remember Cane? Urgh. But we’ll give this one a shot. It looks funny and sweet. If anything, it’ll be nice to see people who are kinda, sorta like you on the big screen.
16 years (!!!) Eric has been a part of my big, fat, Cuban family and he STILL asks the “what are you fighting about?” question.
(I thought the movie looked promising, too.)
LOL Carrie!
We have been married for 24.5 yrs. My husband, like yours and Martica’s is not Cuban … he says we are just a little “loud” … and talk way too fast for him to follow …, but his antennas are always on reception mode. ;)
I wish you well :) Melek
“The happiest people don’t have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.”~ Unknown
I love John Leguizamo so I’ll be lining up for this one (at the DVD counter that is). My husband isn’t Latino either and I think he’s actually said that my family has given him a headache before…lol…just based on volume!
Unfortunately, when my husband’s WASP parents fight (alcohol-induced, which means very often), they are fighting, not conversating.
I think spending time around my drama-free, quiet, repressed Catholic but not Latin family has shown him that it is not normal to 1) drink a gallon of bourbon in six days or 2) spend all your time sniping/yelling at each other. It sent a shudder down my spine when his dad toasted us at the wedding and hoped we would be “as happy as [his parents] have been.” Please. My standards are much higher.
That sounds like a great movie. I can relate to your husband. Sometimes my husband (he’s Salvadoran, I’m not) will be on the phone with his Mom. When he hangs up I say, “What are you fighting about now?” – And he insists they were only discussing something. (And I even have the benefit of being able to speak/understand Spanish – it’s just the forcefulness of the conversation that throws me off!)
John Leguizamo is hilarious. He will not disappoint. I’ve seen him on stage and his first standup (Mambo Mouth) is still my favorite. He and Messing I’m sure will tear the house down. I’m so looking forward to the moving. Can you tell I’m a fan???
That movie looks great! And sooo true! My BF is ethnically 1/2-Mexican, but is actually third generation American (nacido aqui). So yeah, I might as well be dating a gringo. Although he’s had a lot of fun at my family gatherings. He said that he really liked that we got together to celebrate everything just because we want to.
OK, when the movie comes out we get the reviews from the non-Latino spouses!
funny….sometimes it seems like we are arguing…but we are not!
I thought the same thing when I saw this preview! I can so relate with the Latino/Blancita!
My husband loves my Cuban family.
He refers to my big fat Cuban family as “colorful” and proudly tells everyone he’s part Hispanic now.
:)
Thank you for letting me know about this movie, I also am married to a gringo, we will be celebrating our 25th. Not only does my husband ask why we are fighting, my kids always ask us to stop fighting…well, I must admit, it does get pretty loud…especially when the next person wont stop talking so you can speak! I will be looking for the movie, and asking my husband to post his review…I am sure he will appreciate it.
and I love the poster above that said her husband is part hispanic now…I love it!