name tag with a reputation

dear rory,

reputations fascinate me.

and names are connected with reputations.

take chuck norris for example. he's known as a tough, cool, roundhouse-kick-you-off-the-face-of-the-earth kind of guy. merely mention his name and jokes quickly begin. you are bound to hear someone saying something like, “chuck norris doesn’t have to buy a turkey for the holidays. a turkey merely shows up at his house, climbs in his oven, and commits suicide” or “when the president pushes the big red button, chuck norris’s cell phone rings”.

and what do you think of when you hear the name john calvin? how about henry the eighth? queen esther? joan of arc? nero? obama? taylor swift? your best friend? your neighbor?

how do people get reputations? does it happen overnight?

“hi, i am a robber, but tomorrow the world will know me as being honest.” “hey, my name is abusive, but my lawyer is currently having it changed to loving-kindness.”

or do we get our reputations by the little choices we make and the seemingly insignificant things we do?

does it mean cleaning the toilet when no one is watching? does it mean bringing a meal to someone less fortunate? does it mean weeping with those who weep and laughing with those who laugh? does it mean vacuuming your sibling’s room for them even though the mess of fluff on their floor was due to them blowing up your favorite stuffed animal during a science experiment?

sometimes i wish i had a name tag that said, “Hi, my name is _______” and that i could see what people put in the blank for me.

what will people say of me in the future? what do they say of me now?

what kind of jokes will be thrown out after someone mentions my name?

personally, I hope they don’t involve suicidal turkeys.

your wondering friend,

muffin