What’s in a name? How important is it to have a memorable, or important name? Well, I am beginning to come to an understanding of the importance of this whole name thing. I told you in my very first post how I came to be called Grumpy. I chose that name for myself when the kids asked me what I wanted the new grandbaby to call me. A while after that Paula went to Tyler to the trade day they have down there, and she came home with a cap for me. It is an attractive green color with bold white lettering that says GRUMPY. When she gave it to me she said, “here, you may not wear this, but I thought you might like to have it.”
I liked the cap, and I did wear it. Later I started to work for the Frisco Roughriders and I took one of the nice ball caps they sell and had grumpy embroidered on the side in small letters. Even there it was noticed and mentioned pretty often. Next came a tan bucket hat that I ware when I play golf. It has the bold black letters spelling out the name that was beginning to gain me more and more attention. After a year with the Roughriders, I moved over to the food side of the operation and started working in the catering department. That is how I came to be the grill guy on the pool party deck at the Dr. Pepper Ballpark.
The Leslie’s Pool Party Zone, as they call it now, is located in right center field of the ballpark. It faces the late afternoon sun which in July, and August, raises the North Texas temperature to over one hundred degrees for days on end, and the deck has no shade. So, I went from the ball cap to the bucket hat with the bold black letters spelling out GRUMPY. That happened just about the same time the book was taking shape and I got to noticing how people had taken to making comments about my hat. They were always fun comments, and the hat served as an icebreaker for me, and that became one of the reason’s I decided to use the name as my pen name on the book.
One more step in the process took place about a year ago. About this time last year the book was finished. I had it in my possession, and could sell it three months before it was officially released, and available on line and in bookstores. It was also about this time last year that I went to work for Chick-fil-A for a few hours each day. When I took the job I told Jay that I wanted my nametag to read Grumpy. And finally, I have now taken this one step further and I have included my web address on the back of my now, two bucket hats, and on the right sleeve of the nice button down shirts I ware while working at the Chick. Oh yes, there is one other prominent place I display my name and that is on the back window of my car. Now everywhere I go I am advertising my name. I am creating my identity, and it is being noticed.
I could give you several examples of people who don’t know me, but have contacted me because they saw the name. So, the name has become for me, a hook, and an attention getter. It has become my identity. OK, so this is where I’m supposed to go all preachy on you and talk to you about wearing THE name, and ask you if you are proud to wear HIS name, but, I’m not gonna do that. It might be good if I did, but I think I’ll just leave it up to you.
Till next time,
Grump