Pretty much my whole life having friends, my dad has never been able to remember any of my friend's names. Granted, when I was little, I had one friend and he didn't have a problem remembering what she was called, but as soon as I started accruing more and more friends, the less he was able to identify who was whom.
Since fourth grade, I pretty much had the same friends up through high school. Most of them, I spent all my time with and talked to on a daily basis. My dad would pick them up for sports, answer the phone when they called, greet them when they dropped by. Yet, he was never able to put a name with a face.
To my dad, all of them had one name. Specifically, one of friends was named Maren and in his mind, all of them were called Maren. Ariane, white and tall, and Mylinh, Vietnamese and smiley, were the two I hung out with the most, yet to him, they were both named Maren, who was white and red-headed. For some reason, he just couldn't get them straight.
And it's never really gotten much better. My two close friends in college were Holly, white and blond, and Kyong, Korean and short. Although he didn't call them "Maren," they only became, "the one who showers long time" and "the one who showers long time friend".
So, this weekend I am in Seattle and as I was driving in, I called my dad to let him know what time I would arrive.
Me: I'm almost home, dad.
Dad: Oh good good. Did you drive alone?
Me: Yes.
Dad: No good. You didn't bring um, he, what, uh, he, um...
(At this point, I can bail him out and give him the name he is looking for, or choose to let him continue to fish for it. This time around I let him try to figure it out.)
Dad: ...um, he, what, he, um, eh...What his name?
Me: Kyle.
Dad: Yes! Kyle. He come?
Me: Nope.
Dad: Oh.
Granted, he hasn't spent a ton of time with Kyle, but he knows who he is, he asks about him often, and he's met him several times. Plus, Kyle and I have been dating for almost a year. But that's usually how it goes. He racks his brain, throws out names and hopes he picks the right one.
Bless him. At least all my old school friends know my dad well enough that they've excepted the fact that they are all Maren to him.
8 comments:
Who wouldn't want to be a Maren?!
I agree Maren. I would take that name any day!
i wonder what label i would get? "the one who showers longer than the one who showers long time" would be about right, hmmm?
haha. hilarious. I'm always up for a good Daddy Oh story. At least he didn't call Kyle, Maren....right?
Very true. I don't know what names everyone would get. It's always a mystery. And, I'm lucky they can even say Kyle's name. They called him "Ky" in the beginning.
soooo great. I giggled throughout that entire thing. WHY haven't we ever met your dad?? (or has everyone else?) And if I ever do, can I give myself a really strange confusing name, just for kicks? Like "Dances With Wolves", that might me good.
I mean might BE good. Whatevs.
too funny miriam. so flattered you considered me one of your close friends in college :) i miss you and hope that you are well. p.s...loved the video of mia. thanks for posting that.
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