Francine Fact #9 – And your name?
Guess who’d be turning 102 on September 26th? Our Francine!
And as I mentioned in yesterday’s post, our gal loved a celebration. Of course, she’d be expecting me to acknowledge this special day in some form or another. So in her honor, I’ve come up with the concept of a Ten Francine Facts Countdown.
My daughter was less than impressed.
“MOM, SERIOUSLY? EVERY DAY? YOU’LL LOSE SUBSCRIBERS!”
Duly noted. Yes, every day but I shall keep them short. I promise.
Today’s Francine Fact #9 focuses on Francine’s obsession with immediately learning a stranger’s name. It didn’t matter where she was or whom she was meeting. She needed to know the person’s name within seconds.
“Hello! And Your Name?”
As our late dad would say, “Francine is all about the socials.” True. She’s always been keen to chat with strangers. However, at some point in her eighties, she jettisoned the, “Nice to meet you, I’m Frankie” pleasantry, replacing it with the somewhat clipped, “And your name?”
Most folks took a beat before answering. The query was so abrupt and direct.
It didn’t matter who you were … from the audiologist visiting her care home …
… to the folks buying shoes in the Honolulu department store …
… everyone received the same greeting. “And your name?”
“Okay, Kel, that’s enough. Do tell the good folks about the contest!”
Right.
I’m holding a contest.
On what would be Francine’s 102nd birthday one of my subscribers will win: an autographed copy of Never, Never, Hardly Ever – A Mother-Daughter Story of Antiques and Antics – my behind the scenes peek at life with Francine in her Vancouver antique store.
How do you enter? Just leave a comment here. That’s it. One comment = one entry. Already have a copy of NNHE? Gift your win! It’s one less thing you need to shop for. Francine would be thrilled to know our antics are getting out into the world.
So, please, leave a comment and I’ll throw your name (and it is?) into the draw.
Our Francine adored contests. As tomorrow’s post will reveal, she may have won one or two …
23 Responses
Love this ! I could definitely use this tactic, as I am terrible at remembering names, but great with faces !!
Your Mum was such a force to be reckoned with !
Hey Jane, should you employ it, be aware of a momentary hesitation before they respond. Ha! And yes, she was quite “summat.”
And after she found out the person’s name did she offer hers?
Great question, Kathy. She did and then she’d introduce the folks she was with.
I love that you are doing Francine Facts. I have always loved your stories about your Mom. I also love that your Mom always had to know a person’s name. What a lovely gesture. My mother, like your. mom also loved entering as many contests and winning prizes as she could. Similar spirits our moms had. 🙂
Oh Suzanne, thank you. How interesting your mom entered and won contests, too! I’d love to hear what she won over the years.
She would win gift cards, free tickets, getaways, money all sorts is things. One such contest she had tried all the attempts she could use up, there was one answer left so she had me call in to win. I was quick enough to call and won an area rug for our living room that was really beautiful. Mom was always listening to the radio and she was quick to dial the phone to call in. They must have known her personally after a while. lol
Seriously? That you won your area rug on her advice gives me the chills. I bet the radio crew did know her! That’s fun. She clearly had the same spirit as Mom. Wow. I do think some folks have a lucky gene – I have a friend who always won the raffle at swim meets and another who always won the raffle at preschool parent events.
Hi. My name is Lisa. I love that she asked people’s names! Oh, and I own the book but an autographed edition would be fantastic;).
Ha – you’re the best. And your name?
I already have two copies. But love this remembrance. “And your name?” I will remember that for the next ERMA, because I have already forgotten everyone’s name. LOL. xoxoxo
I’ll join ya! We can be known as “those women” at Erma. Wait. Perhaps we already are?
Tammy here! 👋 This is fun!
I love this! You’re in.
Your daughter sounds like my daughter. And she is incorrect–your subscribers love Francine Facts!
My name is Katy, btw.
Nice to meet you, Katy. I’m Kelly.
I love the Francine Facts! Or Frankie Facts . . . now I need her secret for remembering the names she got right off the bat. I’ve tried relating names to colors but sometimes it takes me too long.
Well, the name recall wasn’t as sharp as she aged … She was astounded by my ability to name our fellow bingo players. “How on earth do you remember them, Kel?” It wasn’t hard when most were Hildas, Johns and Evelyns …
I’m loving these! We had a friend who wouldn’t add to our evening’s entertainment by playing cards with us. He sighed, “I always win.” And another friend never bought a Thanksgiving turkey because she always won one. She listened to radio contests and won many prizes. I, on the other hand, have stopped entering contests because I always lose. How can there be such a thing as an obviously lucky person?
And I need to be more generous…and remember names….
Hi Rosalyn, thank you for popping by and leaving a comment. It’s astounding isn’t it how some folks win all the time. I admire your pals for not joining in when they suspect they’d come out on top. I’m like you! I rarely enter contests – I don’t have much luck either. I did win two donkeys and a wall of Turtle Wax on Let’s Make A Deal back in the day though.
I love reading your posts, your mum even though I didn’t know her I fell like I did. You always had so many amazing stories to tell .
Hi Kim, thank you for both reading and popping in to leave such a lovely comment. Mom really was quite the gal. In the last few months of her life, we spent many hours giggling over our adventures! Or should I say, misadventures. Ha!