Embarrassing Letter Changes...

Some people have problems saying names, some change letters around when they say a name. My Mother was of the latter, she would say for "boat and motor" "moat and botor".

 Normally it isn't am embarrassment when you change letters around like that, just sounds rather strange. If you had known my Mother you would know she was a very gentle, kind soul and would never say or do anything to embarrass another or herself if at all possible.

Mom lived alone for about eight years after my father died, saying she would never remarry or go out with another man. As with all things you should never say never. She met a man who did everything he could to get her to go out with him. Then after she agreed to go out with him, he went on to finally get her to marry him.

Well, one Sunday he attended church services with Mom. As is usual during the beginning of services her church asked if there were any visitors that morning. Mom stood up and said she would like to introduce her friend to the congregation. Innocent as always  she said his first and last name. Then she realized she had mispronounced his last name. She had changed two letters in his last name which when said correctly was bad enough, but said as she said it whew the meaning sure is evident.

His last name was Muckenfuss. I guess you can imagine which two letters my Mother rearranged. She transposed the "M' and "F" which sure changes the meaning of his last name. When she realized she had mispronounced his name she turned the brightest red and sat down rather flabbergasted. She told me she had never blushed so badly in her entire life as she did that Sunday morning. She said it would have been bad enough to introduce him to someone and say his name wrong but to get up in the church services in front of the entire congregation there that morning was terrible.

Well, the whole congregation broke out in laughter and after services came up to my Mom and told her it wasn't so bad. They said that most people would have trouble saying his last name. With her usual grace she accepted their words. She said inside she was dying from shame in saying such in church services, even though it was by accident she said his name wrong.

I don't know if it is hereditary but I also from time to time, when I'm tired, say words changing the arrangement of their lettering. At least so far I haven't gotten up in church services and embarrassed myself, but hey I may still yet get the chance. I am my Mother's son.