Way back in the day, and this would have been about 1975, I used to walk to school — as all school-aged children and young adults should.
I was in 10th grade and 15-years old.
As I would walk up to the high school I’d pass the kids walking the other direction to the 9th grade building (the old high school). One of the kids I’d pass, and we’ll call her Claudia so my friends reading this will know who I mean, used to yell, “Dellll-merrrr” in a sort of hickified accent.
A couple of years later Claudia and I were at the high school together and friends. And she apologized for making fun of my name as we’d passed those years before.
When she did I told her not to worry about it and that I hadn’t realized she was poking fun of me. I’d just thought a cute girl had known my name. (And in case there’s any misunderstanding here, Claudia is a very sweet person.)
Fast forward to yesterday and I was at the Minute Clinic at a local CVS. I put all my info into the registration computer and took a seat. A few minutes later a young lady walked out of the Minute Clinic and I heard a woman call my name from within the exam room.
The accent was such that it took me back to 10th grade even though it wasn’t dead-on and I wasn’t even sure I’d heard it right. And certainly, no matter how odd a name might appear to someone, adults don’t make fun of other adults’ names. I was pretty sure.
“Have a seat,” said the gal in the lab coat, and I thought I caught a bit more accent. Three words wasn’t really enough for me to know if I was hearing something or just thinking I was hearing something. “Your name reminds me of being down home,” she continued.
And there it was.
“Where are you from,” I asked,
“Memphis.”
“Then you must know a Delmer or two.”
“I do. That’s why your name reminds me of home.”
We talked a bit – she’d played Womens’ Basketball in college at a school in Tennessee — and she eventually told me to stand for my flu shot.
I was the smallest bit worried. My thought was she’d been a guard in college and while I’ve never passed out from a shot I was pretty sure she wouldn’t be able to provide much in the way of fall prevention. I stood anyway.
She poked me and I thanked her.
“Delmer,” she said, “It was good to meet you. I like your name so much I just had to say it one more time.”
The shot should reach peak effectiveness in two weeks.
Oh, and prior to the shot I’d been to the dentist to have my teeth cleaned. It was a big day.
Yeah buddy…you are definitely livin’ large!
“I used to walk to school”
Not enough. Uphill both ways, barefoot in the snow, yada, yada, yada…
Been handed down that way forever. Get with the program, Delmer.
I had my teeth cleaning yesterday too (said with a big bright smile)…
Ginger: The party never stops here in Ohio.
Rob: Man, I’m falling down on the job. And I know better.
Heather D: My mouth still feels good … even where the metal tools sort of poked my gums.
I love your name because you are definitely the only Delmer I know!
“Where are you from,” I asked,
“Memphis.”
“Then you must know a Delmer or two.”
That cracked me up! I imagined answering “Berkshire” – you certainly wouldn’t get the same answer!
The party never stops here in Ohio.
Ohio? The party never stops wherever Delmer goes…cuz I think of Delmer, I think of these guys.
Sybil: I’m the only Delmer most people know … and yet, sometimes when I call someone will ask, “Delmer who?” as if they need to separate me from all the others they know.
Lady P: I’m betting Berkshire is heavy with Nigels and my have Ians coming in a close second.
Ginger: Oh man. Were those guys ever that young?
So….didja get her number?
She gave it to me but I lost it in her accent and was too embarrassed to ask her to repeat it.
Ok get another flu shot!!!!!!!