That's Life

Issue of Sept. 19, 2008

Dear That’s Life,

We have a minyan in a local Rav’s house every Friday night in Cedarhurst. Just a few weeks ago, while we were davening Kabbalat Shabbat, it started to rain. Everyone had one eye in their siddur, and one eye out the window. When we finished, it was still pouring. One person joked, “I’ll stay and take out the salad” and someone else added, “I’ll take out the soup.” Meanwhile, the Rav pulled a sefer out from his bookcase and said, “I’m giving a small shiur while you’re waiting.” Surprisingly, everyone sat down around the table and listened. After about 15 minutes everyone got up and left. We still got soaked, but at least our souls were filled with Torah.

Abe Blank

Dear That’s Life,

I have a friend at the pharmacy — her name is Marion. She’s not a friend like we go have coffee together, but we call each other by our first names (that’s how often I’m at the pharmacy) and we greet each other warmly each time I’m there, ask about the kids, etc.

On my most recent visit there, the person on line ahead of me was finishing her transaction and asked Marion her name. She replied and the woman looked at her as she was being handed her bag and politely said, “Thank you, Marion.”

When it was my turn and after we exchanged our normal pleasantries, I said to my friend, “Did I ever tell you that I tell people my name is Marion?” Shocked, she looked at me and said, “What?” “Seriously,” I said.

“People mispronounce my name all the time and I’m so sick of repeating it over and over again or of making Biblical associations for them in hopes of them getting my name right, that I just tell them my name is Marion.”

She started to laugh hysterically. I even told her that I have a friend who can pronounce my name properly but prefers to call me Marion, as a joke, and that I answer when people call me by my adopted name.

“That’s really funny,” she replied, “because I tell people my name is Miriam!” Stunned, I said, “You must be kidding! But why would you do that?”

As if the answer was as plain and obvious as the nose on my face, she continued. “Around here,” she explained, “people mispronounce ‘Marion’ all of the time, but they always get ‘Miriam’ right –– so that’s who I say I am!”

MLW