December 18, 2007

"Don't Call Me Junior!"***

***The quote's a gimme but too apropos not to use.

Yesterday I received a poinsetta from St. LUTCBAJ in memorium, so the note said, on the first Christmas since Dad died.

The note referred to Dad as Robert T. Llama, Sr. and to me as Robert T. Llama, Jr. This is not the case, however. Dad was Robert Z. Llama. As has long been the custom in our family, he and I shared the same first name but different middle names.

I suppose it's my own fault - during his last illness, Dad was on the prayer list for a long time as "Robert Llama" and people kept coming up to me after services with startled looks on their faces and inquiries as to whether I was okay. Eventually, the entry was amended to "Robert Llama Sr." and the inquiries stopped, or at least changed in character. I didn't think it worth the bother to try and explain any further at the time.

Nonetheless, this is the first I've seen him labelled as Robert T. Llama, Sr., and I must say that I find it both annoying and vaguely impersonalizing (if that's a word). I can't see that there's any point raising a stink with the church about it, since I don't see where the matter will come up again. But at least I can vent about it a bit here.

Incidentally, the poinsetta itself was rayther a sickly and bedraggled specimen. I dunno whether this was just the luck of the draw or whether it was a subtle message that I'm still on Bishop Lee's Enemies List.

Posted by Robert at December 18, 2007 09:20 AM | TrackBack
Comments

I wouldn't attribute to malice what can be blamed on stupidity.

My mother's name was Mary Irene. She never used Mary. When she was in the hospital, the staff balked when we wanted the charts/name-tags as Irene. They couldn't even fathom M. Irene. So for the last weeks of her life a lot of people called her Mary and pretended they were her friends. I was livid. My father was resigned. The should have called her Mrs. ______, since she wasn't exactly a young thing.

So if you send a nasty gram to St. LUTCBAJ, remember to be nasty and nice at the same time.

Posted by: Zendo Deb at December 18, 2007 09:52 AM

Oh, I'm not planning on saying anything, as I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding and of course the intention was well meant. But I suppose there's an object lesson here about the perils of assumed familiarity.

Posted by: Robbo the LB at December 18, 2007 10:03 AM

quote too easy. Indy 3: He Chose Poorly

followed by: "I named the dog Indiana"

Posted by: Gary at December 18, 2007 10:47 AM

Hmmn...more similarities abound between us...my father and brother have the same exact thingummy with their names...the difference is my father did not die, he merely abandoned ship when my brother was 6. But mail in his name kept coming to house for decades....like his Playboy Club memebership renewal forms....

When my brother was 18 he opened up the renewal forms and renewed it...then after that, he would hop the train into the City with his prep school buddies so they could meet the Bunnies....

And all you got was a be-draggled poinsetta...the joys of being the religous types....your reward is in heaven....

Posted by: Mrs. Peperium at December 18, 2007 11:55 AM