Tonight, moments ago, Emily and I slipped past Food Lion to pick up some baking supplies. (I found this recipe for oatmeal cookies that she claims “taste English.” I had to grab some supplies to make another batch to give her that taste of home in her new home.) On the way out of the store an African-American young lady was peering out the front window talking on her cellphone. The brief phrase we heard her say proves my maxim that certain stringing of words together you never expect to hear, ever. She said,

“My real name’s Laticia, but I go by Fuku.”

Some phrases/words you just never expect to hear. Yay, never are you even able to come close to anticipating. Fuku, if you’re out there, girl, on the worldwide interweb, I want to thank you for changing my life with that one utterance. Wow.

My next question is, if you were Laticia, would you want to go by your real name, or Fuku (pronounced foo-koo)?