What's In A Name?

People from all over the Shoals area have come through my door. Some have come with wills, deeds, car transfers, and divorces to be notarized. There ave been ex-cons who needed my seal on paperwork in order to obtain a driver's license so they could commute to and from work. I've also had customers from as far away as India, Russia and Egypt, but these are the transients. I have a reputation among my repeat customers of being able to call them by name as they enter my office. There was a day not long ago when I almost lost that reputation.

A gentleman entered my office door and my mind went blank. This has become more and more of an occurence as both I and my business age. I thought I knew his face and his voice was familiar, but I could not recall his name. He left some copy work and was to return later in the day to pick it up.

He was hardly out the door when I began to dig through my files. I hurriedly scanned the names: Abbott, Burnell, Caruthers. Nothing jogged my memory. Davis, Dawson, Eason--nope. F-G-H-I-J-K, ah Keasler; yes, Wally Keasler.

It had been several months since I had seen him. Something was different about him. I sat at my desk to contemplate a few moments. His hair was still a sandy blond with no gray edging in. He had the same friendly smile; but, it seemed his cheeks were a lot pudgier. That's it, I said to myself. He's gained a lot of weight. He's no longer the slim Wally I have known over the years.

Later that day when Wally returned, I greeted him with, "Hi, Wally, your copies are ready."

He smiled and said, "That's why I like to come here. You're always so friendly and you treat me like family. Do you treat all of your customers like you do me?

"I try to," I answered.

"I don't know how you do it...call all of your customers by name."

If he only knew.