When you place a telephone call and the receptionist says “who may I say is calling,” you give your name. Right?
One day years ago, I got this question when I called a close friend. My eyes narrowed and I responded “this is his parole officer.” A few weeks later, I identified myself as “his tap dance teacher.” A few weeks ago, I said “I’m from the Garden Shop and I wanna know – do I dump this load of manure on his driveway or in the front yard.”
I called my Boy Scout pal Doctor Bill in Lexington, Ky. “Who’s calling please?” I said I was putting the new roof on his house. Well – patients took a back seat for the moment. He quickly answered and said “WHAT??” Apparently he’d just asked for a quote on a new roof and was debating the subject. We all gets the “who’s calling please” business and — maybe it’s just me — one day I decided to be different. “My name is Marv McClurg from the Reader’s Digest. I’m calling about his million dollar prize.” And I hear in the background . . . sir – this man’s calling about your million dollar prize.
At this point, when I call and say “This is Nelson Snodgrass from the White House,” receptionists will giggle and tell the recipient – always with a smile – “Scott’s on the phone. . . .”
At our office it was, “May I him who’s calling?” A lawyer friend would always say, “Sure, go ahead.” On rare occasions a lawyer would avoid my calls. Until I identified myself to his secretary as Judge Havercamp.
_____________________ John Stonebraker (864) 944-1205 Home (864) 247-0341 Mobile (239) 949-6918 Florida 353.064.668.6019 Ireland
>