EDDY'S PAGE
by Eddy Robey M.A.

"Hi, my name is Eddy Robey."
"Is it short for anything?"
"No, just Eddy, not even a middle name."
"Did your parents want a boy?"
"No, and please don't tell me about your brother Gwendolyn."

That gets a chuckle, and I'm occasionally spared listening to a chorus of A Boy Named Sue. Unfortunately, the next exchange is often,

"Do you mind if I call you Edie?"
"Not if you don't mind my calling you Agatha."

That puts an end to any further nonsense about my name. The first time someone asked if they could call me Edie, I was shocked at the colossal gall to make such a suggestion. In the years since, it has happened so often that I just make a joke and move on.

"Hi, my name is Eddy Robey."
"Aren't you Mrs. Dudley?"
"No, I am married to Mr. Dudley; my name is Eddy Robey"

At this, folks would shake their heads and mutter, but usually let it go. The only real difficulty was when I had to get a court order compelling the hospital to put my legal name on my son's birth certificate. They were little mollified when assured that anyone who felt it was their business to ascertain my boy's legitimacy was welcome to see the marriage certificate.

"Eddy, may I please have some money for ice-cream?"
"Sure, here you go."

From any of a number of buttinskis, "Why did you call your mother Eddy?"
"That's her name."

The buttinski turning to me, "You let him call you Eddy? Why doesn't he call you Mom?"
"One of the things I do is being Giles' mother, but that is not my identity."

Many years passed. Two weeks ago, my son married. I hugged his bride after the wedding, and she called me Mom. I told her my name was Eddy.

Today, the happy couple were my hosts for lunch. I kissed them good-bye at the restaurant door, then left feeling wonderful. They stood and watched me go, my son and his bride. I toddled off, a tiny figure with the slow gait of arthritis.

People always call newlyweds the future, but they are only one part of it. Daughter, wife, mother, mother-in-law: through all those roles, my name has stayed Eddy Robey. I'm living now, and looking forward with as much anticipation as those younguns.

No labels for this gal, just a smile at the blessings of each day.