John was a fairly common name for the era and place where I grew up. There were several in the high school I went to. Then when I began work on the railway there were a lot, it was common to have 5 or 6 of us in the sign on room at one time, the record was 9.
It has at times lead to some confusion. I answered my home phone one evening with the usual "hello" and the person said, "John"? I replied "yes". He went on to tell me a heart breaking story of how his wife had been cheating on him for years and I was making all the appropriate sympathy sounds. About 10 minutes in I began to wonder who the hell I was talking with. Another 5 minutes and he began sobbing and I tried to think of a way to say, "I'm sorry but I don't know you".
Another time I rang my brother who was an Anglican Rector and unbeknown to me had a Russian Orthodox Monk staying. So there was a Russian who didn't have the best English trying to communicate with an Aussie who mangles English.. The Monk answered the phone and I didn't recognise the voice or accent so I asked if Paul was there. He said "who's speaking"? I said "it's his brother John. He said "yes this is Brother John. Me, "yep his brother John". A period of silence... Me, "can I speak to him please". Him, "this is Brother John". The conversation went on like that for some time.
It has at times lead to some confusion. I answered my home phone one evening with the usual "hello" and the person said, "John"? I replied "yes". He went on to tell me a heart breaking story of how his wife had been cheating on him for years and I was making all the appropriate sympathy sounds. About 10 minutes in I began to wonder who the hell I was talking with. Another 5 minutes and he began sobbing and I tried to think of a way to say, "I'm sorry but I don't know you".
Another time I rang my brother who was an Anglican Rector and unbeknown to me had a Russian Orthodox Monk staying. So there was a Russian who didn't have the best English trying to communicate with an Aussie who mangles English.. The Monk answered the phone and I didn't recognise the voice or accent so I asked if Paul was there. He said "who's speaking"? I said "it's his brother John. He said "yes this is Brother John. Me, "yep his brother John". A period of silence... Me, "can I speak to him please". Him, "this is Brother John". The conversation went on like that for some time.
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