Die Schtiwwel (Boots)
Weil die Daage kelder sin, macht es mich vum Schnee denke. So hawwich fer mei Schneeschtiwwel geguckt. Ya, ich hab sie gfunne awwer ich hoff ich brauch sie net yuuse bis Grischtdaag, Yenner odder Hanning. Bis der Schnee kummt, kann ich mei Galoshes waere. Sie sin mei beschder Schtiwwel weil ich sie iwwer mei Schuh waere kann.
(Because the days are getting colder, it makes me think of the snow. So I looked for my snow boots. Yes, I found them but I hope I won’t need to use them until Christmas, January or February. Until the snow comes, I can wear my galoshes. They are my favorite boots because I can wear them over my shoes.)
Vielleicht wisse deel Leit net wie Schtiwwel un Galoshes unnerschittlich sin. Wann du dei Schtiwwel aaduhscht, waerscht du dei Schuh net. Du duhscht sie yuuscht aa. Awwer eb du dei Galoshes aaduhscht, muscht du erscht dei Schuh aaduh. Noh wann du dei Galoshes abnemmscht, hoscht du dei Schuh schunn aa.
(Perhaps some people do not know how boots and galoshes are different. When you put on your boots, you do not wear your shoes. You just put them on. But before you put on your galoshes, you must first put on your shoes. Then when you take off your galoshes, you already have on your shoes.)
Nau muss ich saage as ich kann ken Galoshes in re Schtore finne as mich basse! Ich hab gleene Fiess un die Galoshes as ich finne kann sin zu gross fer mei Schuh. Dann hawwich en Gedanke ghat! Vielleicht kann ich die Kinner Galoshes waere. Awwer die Galoshes as ich finne kann sin zu glee fer mei Schuh.
Ich hab mei alde Galoshes fer en langi Zeit gewore un der Rubber hot ausgwore. So hawwich der Duct Tape uff sie geduh, awwer nau iss der Duct Tape ausgwore! Ich hab ken Waahl — ich muss Schtiwwel kaafe.
(Now I must say that I can no longer find galoshes in the stores that fit me! I have small feet and the galoshes that I can find are too big for my shoes. Then I had an idea! Perhaps I can wear child galoshes. But the galoshes that I can find are too small for my shoes. I wore my old galoshes for a long time and the rubber wore out. So I put duct tape on them, but now the duct tape wore out! I have no choice — I must buy boots.)
Ich gleich mei Schtiwwel awwer net wie ich mei Galoshes gleich. Sie sin heecher as mei Galoshes. Des iss gut wann ich ins Wasser geh as zimmlich deef iss.
(I like my boots but not as much as I like my galoshes. They are higher than my galoshes. This is good when I go in water that is rather deep.)
Der Naame ‘Galoshes’ geht zerick zu de Middle Ages wann viele Satte Schtiwwel vun katz zu lang gut bekannt waare. Es Watt Galoshes iss vun de ‘Gaulish’ Schuh kumme. ‘Gaul’ iss es Land as heitesdaag France iss. Die ‘Gaulish’ Schuh henn die Ledder Uppers un Sohle as vum Hols ausgschnitzelt waare. Wann die Romans die ‘Gaulish’ Schuh gsehne henn, henn sie sie gegliche un die schtolsiche Gaulish Schtiwwel gemacht.
(The name for galoshes originated in the Middle Ages when many kinds of boots from short to long were popular. The word galoshes came from the ‘Gaulish’ shoes. ‘Gaul’ is the territory that is nowadays France. The ‘Gaulish’ shoes had leather uppers and soles that were carved out of wood. When the Romans saw the ‘Gaulish’ shoes, they liked them and made stylish Gaulish boots.)
Wann ich en Kind waar, meind ich as die Galoshes schwatz waare un henn Metaal Clasps ghat fer sie zumache. Ich hab gedenkt as sie nimmi meh gemacht waere weil ich sie fer en langi Zeit in de Schtore net gsehne hab. Awwer waar ich verschtaunt wann ich uff de Internet geguckt hab un, ya, sie sin datt fer kaafe!
(When I was a child, I remember that the galoshes were black and had metal clasps to close them. I thought that they were not made anymore because I did not see them for a long time in stores. But I was surprised when I looked on the internet and, yes, they are there for sale!)
Heitesdaags in de Vereinichde Schtaade yuuse viele Leit es Watt Schtiwwel fer Footwear as iwwer de Fiess un es nidderscht Paert vum Beh geht. Annere Wadde fer Galoshes sin ‘Gummschuh’ odder ‘Iwwerschuh’. Mei Winderschtiwwel sin Schtiwwel, net Galoshes, un sin innewennich fusserich un ganz waarm. Wann’s Schnee gebt, bin ich reddi!)
(Nowadays in the United States many people use the word boots for footwear that goes over the feet and the lower legs. Other words for galoshes are ‘gumshoes’ or ‘overshoes’. My winter boots are boots, not galoshes, and are fuzzy inside and very warm. When it gives snow, I am ready!)
Bis schpeeder… (Until later)…
Yuscht es Bauereimaedel aus Kutzeschteddel, die Mary Laub (Just the farm girl from Kutztown, Mary Laub)