Most of the troops have their last names listed on their blouses, but their first names remain a mystery. I introduce myself, as "Hi. I'm Bonnie." and they reply, "Hi. I'm Lieutenant/Private/Specialist/Corporal/Colonel/Petty Officer/Captain/Sergeant/Major, etc. Jones. I was eating lunch with an acquaintance who I knew from our previous discussions was a pretty interesting guy: two college degrees, a former teacher, spent time in the Peace Corps, speaks four languages . . . After a while eating together, here's our conversation:
Me: So anyway, what's your first name?
He: Robert.
Me: Cool. Do they call you Robert, Bob, Robby or what?
He: Any of those are OK.
[A few minutes of silence and eating.]
He: Did you know that "Bob" spelled backwards is "Bob?"
[Fork half-way to my mouth, dumbfounded, staring in disbelief for 15 seconds]
Me: You're an idiot!
He: [Giggling] Yeah, I know.
[More minutes of silence and eating.]
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