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February 01, 2007
THE TROUBLE WITH NAMES by Yuta Fukuda
My fatherfs name is Masaru.
gDadh cno, that doesnft work.
gDaddyh cno better, probably even worse
gPopsh cnot right, utterly terrible in fact
gFatherh cpublic use only
gMarsyh cmaybe ten years ago, but even then I didnft use it
gHey MaSaRu!!h cno, never
gMachuuh cthatfs it. Back home at last.
Thatfs what came out when I was a kid. It stuck and it still fits. Ifve been calling my parents by nicknames for as long as I can remember, and Ifm sure that both my mother and father would be uncomfortable with one of the standard monikers. So, as far as Ifm concerned, therefs not going to be any gDadhs or gMomhs between us.
On the other hand, what to call them outside of the house, thatfs the problem. Nicknames can be so embarrassing. So, when I talk to friends about Machuu, itfs always like gWell, you know, my fatherch. (Geez, I hope none of my friends see what Ifm saying here.) At the same time, calling him Father or Dad to his face is just too much. That would be troubling, whereas gMachuuh is so comfortable. I just know he feels the same way.
He used to say to me, gDonft be ordinary. You are you. Go your own way!h Thatfs the way he brought me up. The nicknames are part of that. He may be my father, but therefs no way Ifm calling him by that name. Just too embarrassing. But then they say that the humiliation of exposure is the night soil of art, and thatfs certainly true.
If someday I ever have any kids, I hope theyfll find me a name. Something so absurd itfs cute. Thatfd be perfect. Then they too can see what itfs like when they come face to face with their own embarrassment at the local schoolyard. (laughing) But therefs nothing wrong with that.
Come to think of it, therefs one other person who shouldnft see what Ifm saying here. Machuu! I mean, citfs embarrassing.
(translation © victor woronov 2007)
Posted by oyako-staff : February 1, 2007 01:12 PM