Tuesday, January 31, 2012



I have been called all of these titles.

 Having lived all over the world and being called a number of things, some even respectful.

 I was thinking the other day about them. In the States it is pretty much mister, unless you are a Doctor or a Professor, which I am not.

 Spanish speaking countries have the Don also the Mafia seems to have it.
 In Spain there was only one Don in the office and that was the president, Alfredo. Years later when I visited the office, having run some offices myself, I was greeted at the airport, by the company driver as Don Gregorio. I have to tell you, it was pretty damn good, and I really liked it, Don Gregorio.

 In Mexico, age sort of gave you the Don title, although in the office it was the shoeshine guy, Don Tomy that had it and me. I was happy to share it with him…he was an institution in the office, and probably did a better job than I did, he never lost any clients.

 Japan…I never understood what I was called but want to believe it was respectful.

 While visiting the village my parents came from in Asia Minor I was called Effendi, thought that was pretty amazing.

 Italy was Dottore, pretty much to everybody, and I thought they were all doctors…they also had a lesser one, Licensiado. I was always Dottore, even in the parking lot. I picked up my car one evening and gave double my normal tip, some sort of thousands of lire, probably an extra dollar. The attendant immediately straightened up and called me Commendatore. The next day I was Commendatore in the parking lot by all the attendants and I remained that as long as I was in Italy and gave two-dollar tips.

 I have to try that someplace else and see what happens.

 Greece has Kyrie as the most common but there is the noble Archonda.

 Obviously there are other not so polite ones, although all the countries I have lived in seem to have those.

6 comments:

  1. What suits you the best is Palikari, well earned...hope you're well...xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. I know what I used to call you, but that might be too harsh for some ears. How about
    @#*"!**. I think that suits you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. A friend of mine, Nick, calls me strigla. Must be bad because he calls lots of people m....f.....rs.
    By the way what does "fengaraki-mou lambro mean"?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. stringla is witch...not too bad.
      The other is my bright moon....good one

      Delete