View source for 2011.05.30 My True Name

[[category:2011 Rant]][[category:Dad]] 
I call myself "RooK" online a lot; it's based on a pun with "Castle" and was cemented by a fairly dorky adventure in university.  Let's just leave that bit of conceit stay where it lies.

My correct name is "Clayton", as given to me by my parents.  My Dad said that I was named after the Lone Ranger.  Or, rather, the actor that played the Lone Ranger on TV: Clayton Moore.  Awkwardly, this is exactly the sort of lie my Dad would love to spin - seemingly trivial, utterly un-disprovable, and with an odd aspect that would tend to rattle around in my head asking more related questions.  Except that I wouldn't ask - there was too much risk of giving him the satisfaction, which just encouraged him to prey on my gullibility.  It does sort of make sense, though, because I was born right around when my Dad was in his "cowboy phase".  He owned a horse (named "Buck") and everything.  At least, that's what he told me.  Mom never contradicted it, leastways.

Some of my old friends call me "Clay".  I'm not entirely sure what that's about.  There is an oddly Canadian cadence to they way they say, "Hey Clay" when we greet each other.  Most likely they're just echoing what my family call me, and I'm introverted enough to not mention that I prefer the full two-syllable version until after the shortened form has established itself as default.

Mind you, I have toyed with the idea of introducing myself as "Clay" and just living with it, because of how annoying it is to have my name mangled immediately after introductions.  Part of the problem is that I mumble, and part of the problem is that "Clayton" isn't really all that common.  Regardless, I've been called "Clinton?" more times than I care to admit.  Also: "Clarence?" "Claybourne?" and "Nathan?".

I've been called "Raymond" quite a lot.  By my paternal grandmother, slipping the cognitive gear to refer to her oldest son (of her youngest set of children).

I've also been called "Fred" a fair amount.  By my mom and my maternal grandmother.  It's just a silly slip, but there is a strong resemblance and I can't say I'm not flattered.

One time at a design competition my name tag read "Claytou".  I decided it should be pronounced "Klaatu barada nikto".

The guys at the pulp mill in Castlegar decided I should be called "Sandy".  Some puns are too lame to explain.

Lately I get called "Daddy" a lot.  I quite like it.

But my true name, the name that I know in my bones is what I am called, is "Sport".  It was part of me as my consciousness came into existence, as how I was addressed by Dad when he was <i>really</i> talking to me.  Talking to the <i>real</i> me.