✅A Rose By Any Other Name Still Smells As Sweet

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet;

William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet,

What is in a name? It’s a label. One is given to us most of the time at birth by our parents. But what happens when people showing up in your life decide to invest just enough of themselves into you and give you a nickname?

I’ve had many nicknames over the years. Some if not all I had no say in. Kids teasing and bullying at school. Lover’s pet names. A circle of friends who all have nicknames for one another inside that group.

The origins of Coop

I’m sure at some time or other in my life someone, somewhere called me Coop. Clearly, it didn’t stick or mean anything because I don’t recall it.

Except for this one time. This one person.

I was 17 and in high school. I was big into writing (surprise!) as well as radio back then. I was fortunate enough to attend a school that had its own in-house TV and radio station. Radio all day every day for me please and thank you. I had no desire to get into TV. In front of or behind that camera. Of course, the teacher made us try all there was to try. Resentfully, I acted in some horrible day drama that another student had scripted.

Then I had to work the equipment behind the scenes and learn to write a script. It was agonizing. The writing itself was fine, but learning the proper format for writing a script? Ick.

I got it done and passed like there was ever any doubt but God how I loved that radio station. We were ahead of our time back then. Pre-recorded shows. We were the XM of our time. We did not know how cool we were back then. Now we’re too old to care, but that’s a different write.

Simultaneously, I was part of a non-profit that focused on getting soon-to-be high school grads prepped and ready for the new world. Job skills, resume writing, application completion, how to dress properly for an interview, all the basics that you need to at least have a shot at being successful.

Adults running the program asked me to write a PSA. I wrote three. They chose one. And they took it to a local radio station. Somehow my name entered the hat as the “radio talent” to record the PSA. Yeah, no. Not doing. Nope. Nope. Nope.

Basically, they leashed me and dragged me into the radio station, and walked me around like a skittish service dog. It’s just a tour. It’s just a tour. The adults, being the adults that they are (#blesstheirhearts). A whirlwind tour hosted by Tom, the station manager, and I was getting dizzy with names and faces.

I finally caved and gave in and said I’d do it. I’d be the voice for the PSA. I showed up a week later and a lot had changed in a very short time. I don’t recall the circumstances, but Tom was out. One of the jocks was now promoted to station manager and would keep his own daytime show.

Enter Brian aka “B”

B was five years my senior. He had been given the heads up I was nervous. He was very cool and very chill and very patient. I don’t recall exactly how many takes it took, but the number was small for the circumstances. Three, maybe? Five?

He told me what a great job I had done and not in that condescending way adults have of talking to teens. He sincerely meant it. As we’re headed out of the recording booth, he grabs the door to open it for me so I stop and step back. He shuts the door instead. Behind that door was the kiss that started it all.

In due time, I became Cooper. Then shortened to Coop. Eventually, I became Red as I had decided to go from my natural mutt colors to one color, dark auburn.

Brian BC Carter (Yes, of Carter and Sanborn fame in Philly) died on April 10, 2012, from a massive heart attack.

We had been in and out of each other’s worlds for over 30 years.

Now here we sit just four days away from the anniversary of his death and lo-and-behold.

I’m hearing the name Coop again. Not in a dream. Not in a vision. Not from beyond the grave. So my newly-minted friend, now you know the rest of the story.