The world is a funny place. Way back, in my long ago youth, I simply
figured that one day people would call me, Mister Jarvis. We
children, as well as all properly raised young adults, said, "mister",
and "Missus". But by the time I was at the age where I should be
having the title passed to my own broad shoulders, society around the
Pacific Northwest had altered to no longer need titles to indicate
respect. We were learning to show respect through our behavior.
For many years I would turn, when addressed as Mister Jarvis, and ask,
"Did my father come in the room?"
But dad died back in 2001, and I quit that ploy. Now I just say,
"Carl. Call me Carl".
The doctors I see are a mixed bag. Some are still tied to the title,
and some go by their first name. I follow their lead and call them
whatever they feel comfortable with.
Mister Carl A. Jarvis
On 10/31/16, Roger Loran Bailey <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
This is really neither here nor there, but I thought I would comment on
the new doctor I saw today. The last time I saw the urologist was a year
ago and today I had a follow up appointment. My urologist has moved on,
though, and my appointment was with a new one. I really like this
doctor. This was the first doctor that I ever had an appointment with
who did not use the title doctor and was uninterested in being called by
anything but her first name. Her name was Claudine and that is how she
introduced herself. Her entire office and staff were relaxed and
informal too. They were all chatty and friendly. Claudine even called my
pharmacy and left a voice mail message and told them to call back if
they had any questions and gave her name as Claudine with no indication
that she was the doctor. I imagine the pharmacist probably thought the
message was from her assistant. I remember reading a book about Google
that described the corporate culture at the Google head quarters with
employees roller blading through the hallways wearing T-shirts. That is
what this office reminded me of. In my mental image Claudine came across
as the type you might see roller blading and blowing bubble gum. I don't
know if I will be going back though. She declared me in satisfactory
urological health and gave me an order to get one more PSA test. If
there are no problems with it I need only call her for another
appointment if something goes wrong again. I wish all doctor offices
could be like this. From the moment I stepped in there I did not hear
one person stuffily call me Mr. Bailey. I was just Roger from the start
to finish.
