Letter To Taco Bell

Sixteen years of Speech Therapy ingrained a personal, unique hatred of the letter "R." If you had sixteen years of audio recordings, worksheets, and homework just saying every word in the English language with an "R"-you'd be sick of it too!

I can say most R-words now, even if it's with an accent or some sort of drawl. Those that I struggle with though, I find my way around.

For example, when I order at Taco Bell. My favorite thing is the #4 Combo (a Mexican Pizza and 2 soft tacos, if you're curious). This word is beyond frustrating-I hear myself say the "R" in the word, but I actually drop the "R" at the end. So instead of "four," it sounds like, "Fou," or the cashier assumes "five."

Generally, I enter the building and order. I say "Four"
I just say "The Mexican Pizza combo" to avoid saying the cursed word "Four." I get my point across at Taco Bell and frankly, going through that effort to order my favorite combo is worth it.

Outside of the local Taco Bell, I usually adjust my word choice based on gut feelings and who I am talking to. However, when I am not prepared to adapt and not expecting a communication mishap is when verbal correspondence and patience is compromised.

People ask about my accent at least 3-5 times a week and I've grown accustomed to it. I'm at a level of communication where most people understand me with the occasional communication mishap. And these mishaps? No problem! Sure, my pronunciation just isn't as clear as it should be and I re-clarify what I'm trying to say. Usually when I need to re-clarify, I amiably respond, "Oh sorry, it's a funny speech thing I had as a kid."

Let's face it-communication mishaps occur to everyone, but it is even more frustrating when you have speech issues. I'd be disingenuous though to claim that I've never been irritated during these situations. Yes, I am guilty of sometimes lashing out because of impatience, frustration, etc. during a
Oh geez, here we go- a communication mishap.

I responded casually, and hoping this pronunciation worked, "Yes, coloring"

"So, food kahLORing, um I haven't heard of that-what is it?"

Would it be appropriate to rip my hair out in public right now? I'm exhausted and I haven't even started baking yet-I'm done. I shouldn't have signed up, I can't even bake! And this guy- oh this guy-actually hears my "R" in 'coloring' but can't seem to put together "KahLORing" and "Coloring."

I tried to relax and figured I'd just re-clarify the word.

I responded,"It's the liquid die you put into cakes and food to change the color of it."

This had to be the best way to describe "food-coloring," right? Oh no-he's a teenage/young guy-he doesn't bake!

He's looking like a deer in headlights now and I'm exasperated.

With concern and confusion, he replied, "I'm going to go ask my supervisor; it's food KahLORing right?"

That's it! The straw that broke the camel's