And it’s probably because those are the few words I know…well, the lead in to chorus and something that rhymes with “name.” I think I heard in a church once where people were more friendly in bars than in church and that “Shouldn’t the church be friendlier than a bunch of sinners getting drunk?” I leave the irony of the statement for you to ponder; I really wanted to talk more about the idea that wherever I go, someone knows me and it usually is connected with school.
For instance, today, when I did a quick run into Target to spend no less than $18, I recognized a boy who went to CHS. How? He was still wearing the OpticOrangeTuesdayBadge for not having his ID at school. I wanted to motion to him to take if off, but then I thought again. As I was walking out, former students honked and waved at me (really, why do we honk our horns and wave anyway?). I didn’t get past CiCi’s when a fellow teacher honked at me from his truck motioning to “roll down your window.” I did and he yelled “Your rear brake light is out.” I thanked him (and I did mean it) and off we went in our separate speeds.
It’s a hazard of the job: public recognition. Anywhere I go in Elkhart County has the probability of running into a student or colleague from school. Most encounters are spastic…especially the ones where you recognize one another but had very little beyond a “Hey” relationship. “Hey’s” are exchanged and then “What are you up to?” and then the “Well, see you later.”
My sons aren’t fond of the Dad-as-Teacher thing. I thought they would be proud to have their Dad recognized– by name–outside of our family. One time, after its Grand Opening, We the Judson family went to ColdStoneCholesterol Creamery. And in opening the door, one of my more vocal students happen to see me and did a big singsongy “Hey, it’s Mr. Judson!”
I smiled. Lori sighed. Boys looked down.
I don’t think that they were embarrassed…well, yeah, the we’re embarrassed and when Lori asked the boys later if they liked that my students shouted our last name, Evan said “Not really” and Colin looked down.
They’re shy kids like most of us: not happy in being the object of too many eyes upon one. Evan used to faint in school (usually it was a blood sighting thing) and Colin takes awhile to warm up to a new environment. Lori usually just smiles and nods in these situations. Me, I think I got used to too many eyes on one when I would arrive to school late because I missed the 6:30 a.m. bus in Monte Rio and would have to take the 7:30 20-mile bus trek to Santa Rosa, transfer to a city bus and arrive at school an hour and 25 minutes late.
I remember taking a deep breath before opening the door to Mrs. Addis’s classroom and walking in front of the class to get to my desk as fast as possible. I avoided the all eyes on me by looking down.
To not acknowledge attention is not a bad coping mechanism. I don’t see you, therefore you do not exist. Descartes would be proud.
My sons are more interested in my second real full name than Judson. One night, I told them that I was adopted at an early age (6 months old) and that I was in foster care between birth and my adoption to Dr. and Mrs. Judson. For court records, I was given a proxy name or a placeholder name or something like that. And, seriously, Evan will smile and Colin will smilelaugh when I tell them that my second full name was: Eugene Allan Bivens. (Go ahead: laugh. I did when I found out through some hunting for my birth parents 13 years ago).
For now, Judson is my defining name. Some use it as a signal for a “Hey” while others use it as a curse word. And there’s no getting away from the name. And maybe, perhaps, the nice thing about being in school–as a student or teacher–is it is the one place everybody knows your name.
14 Comments
Nobody hates that song, Judson, nobody. I am singing it in my head right now. Now I’m singing it out loud. What a great song–and who says people in bars are sinners?
Nobody really knows the song…there’s a whole section that never gets played (reminds me of the _MASH_ theme song.
Anyway, glad you stopped by.
Peace.
My boss once told me the biggest complement I could give a customer was to say his (or her ) name in public. He said that if I saw his name on a shirt or on his credit card, I should greet him with it. I was impressed (honestly, I didn’t think that he was smart enough to come up with something like that
). It seemed true to me. Why else to we roll credits on movies or run though a list of verbal thank-yous nobody listens to at convocations/awards ceremonies? We like to hear our name heard.
But then, paradoxically, we hate it. We hate the recognition as you’ve described in your coffee stains. Understandably, you didn’t want the eyes on you when you’re late. Is it shame that makes us shy from recognition? Why is it that sometimes we want it and others we don’t? Is it personality?
Some food for thought.
I know what you mean. There are many a time that i hide my face when i see people from church. haha. there are many different reasons that i need to hide it. Quick ? how did you find your backround and stuff??
thats funny, i see the whole bowtie thing. but i can’t see u being a Eugene, i see you as a judson.
Well I am a waitress and I LOVE it when customers use my name rather than saying, “excuse me miss,” or “ma’am would you get me…” I feel it’s so impersonal. My face lights up when I go to a table and they rather then using the typical miss or ma’am say, “Thankyou, Julie.”
Hey mr Judson, that was pretty funny. mmhmm..and i honked at you =D that was fun.
aw judson! i yell your name quite often in the halls. i also do in public. i dont think that anyone hates your song.
you dont want everyone to know your name judson? honestly i dont know that song; i dont think. will you sing it to me?
Ah Judson….I have to say that these are very entertaining…I think you should be proud everyone knows your name so far i find you as a cool teacher!
I used to work in a restaurant and when people called me “guy” or “dude”, i always responded with “I got a name and im busy.”
Seth,
That wasn’t me, was it? Actually, I think I would just say “Hey.”
Brit:
Back in the day, circa 1995ish, I posted what I knew about my adoption on a bulletin board via UseNet. Within a couple hours, a person in the city I was adopted was able to locate my birth mother’s maiden name and then an hour later, the phone numbers of 7 people who could have been either my birth mother or her parents (she had an unusual spelling of the last name).
Pretty cool, eh? The power of ‘Net in the early days.
Peace.
Robyn,
Interesting ideas and I think it may have something to do with, perhaps, a false sense of humility/pride.
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