ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Eating lunch across the street from the Church of San Felipe de Neri, Old Town Albuquerque's biggest tourist magnet, we weren't surprised when the waiter asked where we were from.

“Both my parents had heavy accents, and so did everybody they knew. It’s a rhythm thing — people who speak English where they have to hesitate and think of the right word. And I think it rubbed off.” ...