“Oh my God, it’s you!” is a phrase directed at me on the phone earlier this year.
Now, while it is true that, at least years ago (but hopefully not now) I may have had delusions of grandeur, I have never harboured delusions of deity. And not just because I’m an atheist. So, dear reader (I know this blog has at least one, other than my wife *waves*), it came as something of a shock.
Why don’t you grab a nice cup of tea* (as we sometimes say here in Blighty) while I tell you the tale?
You might be asking yourself what on Earth a fancy burger and fries – as pictured in the header – has to do with all this? Well… I’m coming to that. There are (probably) several tangents I need to wander off on first.
So, to cut a long story err, medium… we recently had a major plumbing problem with the electric drain pump that serves our power shower. It failed completely, leaving us without a usable shower ‘cos the waste water had nowhere to go and flooded bathrooms – even when they’re a ‘wet’ room like ours – ain’t no fun. A replacement pump had been ordered, but was taking too long to be fitted (we eventually waited three bloody weeks!).
I am stereotypically English in that I don’t like to make a fuss. Much to the occasional frustration of my ‘murrican wife. I mean, I’m really awful at it. To the extent that I will apologise while I’m doing it.
When I finally made the ‘time to shout at them call’, I was nervous but got a terribly helpful young woman (most of you are young – I’m 63) who actually seemed to care. As part of the call I was asked for my email address. I gave her one of my more descriptive ones: legendinmyownlunchtime. I leave you, dear reader, to think about how I acquired this label long ago and far away. The header image is a clue.
The nice call handler uttered the immortal line:
“Oh my God, it’s you!”
I was, as you might well imagine, taken aback and I asked her to explain.
Some years ago, her friend(s) had called her a legend during a lunchtime meal. Shortly thereafter, she tried to open an email account with the same name as mine, only to be told it was already taken. She was quite disappointed. Yet here she was, years later, talking to the grumpy old git with the e-mail address she’d wanted. There was much laughter.
Funny old thing life. Also… small world, innit?
PS. If, by some remote chance the young woman in question is reading this… Hi and sorry!
* Other beverages are available.
