One of the best things about
having a successful namesake is that interesting and successful people with
unusual names approach me, in error, on LinkedIn. I get a vicarious sense of
the life of my successful namesake and a clear idea of the respect he appears to command in the
mining business. The most recent visitor from that intriguing other world was a
young American man with the splendid first name of ‘Chase’.
Chase is an ‘Underground
Geologist’ and in his profile picture he gilds the lily a little by being
photographed quite literally underground. I then realised that this is the norm
in Chase’s field. Most of the people who have endorsed his skills - from
‘logging’ and ’mining’ through to the more prosaic ‘Microsoft Office’ – are posed
in bracing outdoor situations in very robust workwear. Most of the people who
endorse my rugged skills – from ‘event management’ to ‘newsletters’ – are looking
into the distance and trying to look ‘arty’.
I am toying with the idea of
approaching my successful namesake and offering to fill in for him if needs be.
I am thoroughly available if, for instance, a luxury hotel and business class
travel were booked in his/our name and he couldn’t make it on account of an
urgent outdoor/underground meeting with Chase or another expert in the field. It
would be a terrible shame to disappoint all of those service staff waiting to
attend to the every need of someone bearing his/my name.
I could, alternatively, relieve
the stress of such a high-achiever by simply swapping lives with him for a
fortnight. I’m sure I could deliver a prepared presentation or two to mining
symposia – as long as the podium was quite a distance from the
delegates. There may still be some consternation:
‘My, how he’s changed. Quite grey
now and, is it me, or is he a foot taller?’
I think, though, what I would most
delight in would be the chance to catch up with Chase in person and to see him
in action. He looks so dynamic but, at the same time, quite garrulous. I’m sure I
could learn a lot by just hanging out with him - probably underground. I
suspect my fitness levels would also be enhanced.
As for my namesake – I’m sure
he’d rise to the challenge of Project Managing 3 school runs a day (the
youngest is only in for half days this year) and chatting on with the other
mothers about school trips and whether it’s really worth hanging the washing out at all at
this time of year. My youngest could fully brief him on
arrival. She hit the nail on the head just the other day as she assumed the
position for me to wipe her bottom after she’d clearly monopolised the fruit
bowl at nursery:
‘You get all the best jobs don’t
you Dad?!’
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