Cornershot

If you spend any time in a Circuit Court clerk’s office, you are bound to hear this conversation at least once.

Someone (it’s nearly always a man) gets on the phone and says: “Mama? What’s your name?”

Then there is a period of silence while Mama is undoubtedly wondering what sort of fool she’s brought into this world. I guess she then tells him exactly what kind of fool he is, because he replies, defensively, “Well, I always just called you ‘Mama.’ ”

Here’s a tip: If you want to get married, you need to know your mother’s full maiden name to fill out the form for the license. The deputy clerks tell me that an amazing number of people don’t have this information at their fingertips, so ask before you go.

And while you’re asking about her name, throw in a few more questions. You might be surprised to find out what an interesting person your mama is when she’s not busy being your mama.

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